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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7318-B Staff AnalysisDecember 22, 2003 NO.: 3 File No.: Owner: Address: Z -7318-B City of Little Rock Northwest corner of East 2nd and Sherman Streets Description: South one-half of block bounded by East 2nd Street, Sherman Street, President Clinton Avenue and Commerce Street Zoned: Variance Requested: Justification-, Present Use of Property: Proposed Use of Property AFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments. B. Staff Analysis: UU Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-353 and 36-543 associated with signage proposed for a new parking deck. The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Undeveloped Parking Deck The UU zoned property at the northwest corner of East 2nd Street and Sherman Street is the future site of a city -owned parking deck which will serve the First Security Center building and the entire River Market area. Foundation work is currently being done for the parking deck structure. The First Security Center multi -story building is currently under construction immediately to the north, along the south side of President Clinton Avenue. December 22, 2003 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont. In conjunction with the parking deck structure, three (3) signs are proposed. Two (2) roof -mounted signs and one (1) projecting sign are proposed. The roof -mounted signs are proposed to be mounted on the Commerce and Sherman Street frontages in the center of the building, above the roofline on top of the brick wall. The roof sign will have the text "River Market Parking". The third sign will be a projecting sign and have the text "Public Parking". It will be located on the Second Street side of the building above the public entry to the parking deck. It will have two (2) sides, with the same text on each side. The projecting sign will be a white metal sign, with channel letters painted blue inside with blue neon illumination. The arrow will also be a channel painted blue with blue neon illumination. The sign will be installed at least 13 feet above the driveway. With the recent revisions to the River Market Design Overlay District ordinance, neon is permitted on projecting signs. No movement, flashing or change of illumination level is permitted. Each neon sign will have a one (1) year maintenance review by City staff. Several variances are requested for the proposed signs as follows: ■ Sec. 36-353.(c)(1)a. Except as permitted in subsection (b), the maximum sign height on a building shall not extend above the second floor windowsill or above the overhang of a single story building. • Sec. 36-543.(7) Roof signs, or any sign that is not mounted on a vertical surface are prohibited signs. As noted previously, the roof -mounted signs are proposed to be mounted on the Commerce and Sherman Street frontages in the center of the building above the roofline on top of the brick wall. ■ Sec. 36-353.(c)(2)a. Signs shall not exceed one quarter (1/4) of a square foot of sign area for each linear foot of primary street building frontage, not exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet per sign. These signs will measure 4' tall by 40' wide. These signs will cover approximately 160 square feet or 6.4 times the maximum of 25 square feet. 2 December 22, 2003 ITEM NO.: 3 (Cont. • Sec. 36-353(c)(3). Letters shall not exceed one and one-half (1 '/Z) feet in height. Individual letters will be channel letters painted blue inside with blue neon illumination. These will not be internally illuminated letters. The individual letters are 48" tall and are approximately 24" wide for the "R", 29" wide for the "M" and 10" for the "I". The letters are 48" tall or 2.6 times the maximum height of 18 inches. • Sec. 36-353(e)(1)b. Height of projecting signs shall not extend past the sill of the second story windows. This sign is proposed to be placed above the windowsill of the second story window. For this application, the window will be considered to be the open-air portion of the wall and the second floor will be considered to be the second level at the location at which the sign will be hung. Sec. 36-353(e)(1)c. Projecting signs shall extend a maximum of three (3) feet from the face of the building. The sign is proposed to extend 60" from the fact of the building. Mounting brackets are internal to the sign so that the sign face sits flush with the building. That projection is 24" or 66 percent over the maximum of 36" maximum projection. • Sec. 36-353(e)(2)a. Projecting signs shall have a maximum of twelve (12) square feet of sign face per sign. The rectangular portion of the sign is proposed to be 60" X 25" for a total of 10.41 square feet. When the arrow is added, the total square footage is 13.94 square feet. That square footage is 1.94 square feet or 16 percent over the maximum of 12 square feet. There will also be neon artwork placed on the building. There will be a total of seven (7) neon rectangles to highlight the brick portions of the extension walls. The neon rectangles will stretch from the bottom of the second level open air space to the top of the sixth level open air space. This artwork will be illuminated in blue neon. Staff is supportive of the requested variances. The parking deck structure will be a non -pedestrian use, and therefore, signage has been designed to attract drivers from surrounding streets as well as the interstate. Lack of parking has been a big problem in the River Market District for some time, and the new parking deck will help alleviate the problem. Given the small overall size of the River Market District, staff feels that it is important to 3 December 22, 2003 ITEM NO.: 3 ,(Cont. have signage which will direct drivers to the parking deck, and reduce vehicular traffic within the district as much as possible. Staff feels that the proposed signs will have no adverse impact on the surrounding properties or the River Market District. The River Market Design Review Committee met on December 2, 2003 and reviewed the proposed signage and requested variances. The Committee voted to recommend approval of the requested variances. A copy of the DRC letter of approval is attached for Board review. The Committee also approved the neon artwork as described previously. No Board of Adjustment action is required for "artwork". C. Staff Recommendations: Staff recommends approval of the requested sign variances, subject to sign permits being obtained for the signs. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (DECEMBER 22, 2003) 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. 4