HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7225 Staff AnalysisJune 24, 2002
ITEM NO.:
File No.: Z-7225
Owner: Grace Presbyterian Church
Address 9301 Rodney Parham Road
Description: Southwest corner of the Rodney Parham
Road and Reservoir Road intersection
Zoned: R-2
Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign
provisions of Section 36-553 to permit a
ground -mounted sign which exceeds the
maximum height allowed.
Justification:
Present Use of Property:
Proposed Use of Property:
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
No Comments.
B. Staff Analysis:
The applicant's justification is presented in
an attached letter.
Church
Church
The R-2 zoned property at 9301 Rodney Parham Road contains the
Grace Presbyterian Church development. There are two (2) access
points from Rodney Parham Road. There is one (1) ground -mounted sign
on each side of the westernmost access drive.
The church proposes to remove the ground -mounted sign on the east side
of the access drive and replace it with a new sign. The new ground -
mounted sign is proposed to have a height of ten (10) feet and an area of
48 square feet. Churches are allowed to have signage as permitted in
office zoning (maximum height — 6 feet, maximum area — 64 square feet).
Ground -mounted signs are to have a minimum setback of five (5) feet
from property lines. Therefore, the church is requesting a variance to
June 24, 2002
Item No.: C (Cont.
A
allow the ground -mounted sign to exceed the maximum height allowed by
ordinance.
Staff is supportive of the variance request. Staff feels that the requested
variance is very minor and will have no adverse impact on the general
area. The church is located in an area along Rodney Parham Road which
contains a number of commercial sized ground -mounted signs.
Additionally, the site of the proposed sign is slightly below the grade of
Rodney Parham Road, and a ten (10) foot high sign as proposed will aid
in the identification of the property. As noted earlier, there are two (2)
ground -mounted signs on the property, one (1) on each side of the
westernmost access drive. Staff feels that the sign on the west side of the
drive should be removed (letters taken off the rock wall) in exchange for
the taller ground -mounted sign.
Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested variance to allow a ground -
mounted sign which exceeds the maximum height allowed subject to the
following conditions:
1. The sign must be set back at least five (5) feet from the front
property line.
2. A sign permit must be obtained as per City ordinance
requirements.
3. The second ground -mounted sign (west side of the access drive)
as well as the sign to be replaced must be removed from the
property, resulting in only one (1) ground -mounted sign for the site_
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (MAY 20, 2002)
Ronnie Roberson was present, representing the application. There were no
objectors present. Staff presented the application with a recommendation of
approval.
Ronnie Roberson addressed the Board in support of the application. He noted
that the church did not agree with staffs condition #3 as listed in paragraph C. of
the agenda report. He stated that the church did not wish to remove the existing
sign located on the west side of the access drive. He noted that it was the
original sign which was constructed in the 1960's when the church was built. He
noted that the sign had historic and sentimental importance to the church. The
sign has a small plaque near the upper right corner which dedicates the sign to a
deceased church member.
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June 24, 2002
Item No.: C (Cont.
Cindy Dawson, City Attorney, asked Mr. Roberson if he had a problem with
conditions #1 and #2. He stated that he did not.
There was a discussion as to whether or not the existing sign was considered a
sign based on the wording.
Andy Francis stated that he had no problem with the existing sign.
There was a motion to approve the application as recommended by staff,
eliminating staff condition #3.
Staff noted that this was not an appropriate motion based on the fact that a
second ground -mounted sign on the site would require a second variance
request. Staff noted that this second variance had not been advertised, nor had
the adjacent property owners been informed of it. This issue was briefly
discussed.
The previous motion was withdrawn. A new motion was made to defer the
application to the June 24, 2002 agenda. The motion passed by a vote of 5 ayes
and 0 nays. The application was deferred.
STAFF UPDATE:
The applicant submitted a letter to staff on May 22, 2002 revising the application
to include a variance to allow two (2) ground -mounted signs for the church
property. Section 36-553(a)(2) of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows only one
(1) ground -mounted sign per premises.
As noted in the attached applicant's letter, the church wishes to preserve the
second ground -mounted sign located on the west side of the westernmost
access drive from Rodney Parham Road. The sign was the original sign for the
church when it was built in 1962 and was dedicated as a memorial to a past
church member.
Staff is supportive of the variance to allow two (2) ground -mounted signs for this
property. The older ground -mounted sign located along the west side of the
access drive sits below the grade of Rodney Parham Road and is not very visible
from the street. Staff recognizes the fact that the sign holds much historical
value to the church, and that it no longer provides effective identification of the
church to passing motorists.
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June 24, 2002
No.: C (Cont.
Revised Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the requested variances to allow a ground -
mounted sign which exceeds the maximum height allowed and to allow two (2)
ground -mounted signs for the property, subject to the following conditions:
1. The new sign must be set back at least five (5) feet from the front property
line.
2. A sign permit must be obtained as per City Ordinance requirements.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (JUNE 24, 2002)
The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented
the item and a recommendation of approval.
The applicant offered no additional comments.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by
staff by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.
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