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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7463-B Staff AnalysisJANUARY 25, 2010 ITEM NO_: 2 File No.: Owner: Applicant: Address: Description: Zoned: Z -7463-B Billy Milam Steven Murrah, White Sign Co. 6425 S. University Avenue Northeast corner of S. University Avenue and West 65th Street C-4 Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-557 to allow a canopy sign without direct street frontage. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Convenience store with gas pumps Proposed Use of Property: Convenience store with gas pumps STAFF REPORT A. Public Works issues: No Comments. B. Staff Analysis, The C-4 zoned property at 6425 S. University Avenue is occupied by a recently constructed convenience store with gas pumps. The property is located at the northeast corner of S. University Avenue and W. 65th Street. The convenience store building is located within the east half of the property, with the gas pumps and canopy structure within the west half. Access drives from S. University Avenue and W. 65th Street serve the site. There is a ground -mounted sign at the southwest corner of the property oriented toward the traffic along S. University Avenue. There is also a wall sign on the west side (front) of the convenience store building. There are signs on the west, north and south sides of the gas pump canopy. On October 26, 2609 the Board of Adjustment approved a variance to allow placement of a sign on the east side of the gas pump canopy (southeast corner), without direct street frontage. The approved sign is an electronic sign for the display of fuel prices. The sign was approved, subject to the following conditions: JANUARY 25, 2010 ITEM NO.: 2 (Con't. 1. The sign on the north end of the gas pump canopy must be removed within 30 days. 2. The sign on the south end of the gas pump canopy will be allowed to remain. 3. There will be no other ground -mounted signs allowed on the property. 4. All signs must be permitted. Since the approval date, the applicant has obtained permits for the signs on the east, west and south sides of the canopy. However, the sign on the north side of the canopy has not been removed. The applicant is now back before the Board of Adjustment to readdress the issue of the sign on the north end of the canopy, asking that it be allowed to stay. Section 36-557(a) of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires that signs face a public street frontage. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow the sign on the north end of the gas pump canopy with no direct street frontage. Staff is not supportive of the requested variance. Staff believes the sign on the north end of the gas pump canopy serves no real purpose in identifying this business. The sign on the west side of the canopy and the ground sign at the southwest corner of the property provide ample visibility and identity of the property to traffic southbound on S. University Avenue. Although a gas pump canopy sign without direct street frontage is a common occurrence found on gas pump canopies in this general area along S. University Avenue (Valero, Dodge Store and Zimmerman's Exxon), different circumstances exist with those properties which make the canopy signs without street frontage good options. The sign on the south side of the Valero gas pump canopy was allowed when there were no other buildings between it and West 65°h Street. Staff believes the requested sign on the north end of the gas pump canopy at 6425 S. University Avenue is excessive, serves no purpose in identifying this business and represents nothing more than sign clutter. There are five (5) other signs on this property which staff feels adequately identify this convenience store with gas pumps business. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends'denial of the requested variance to allow a canopy sign without street frontage. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (JANUARY 25, 2010) Brad White and Steven Murrah were present, representing the application. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the application with a recommendation of denial. JANUARY 25, 2010 NO.: 2 Can't. Brad White addressed the Board in support of the application. He explained that the sign on the north end of the canopy aided in the identification of the business. He noted that the sign had good visibility from S. University Avenue. Scott Smith discussed the sequence of events leading to the variance request. Mr. White explained that the company that constructed the gas pump canopy also placed the signs on the canopy, and did not obtain permits for the signs. Scott Smith asked if the canopy sign was vinyl and how hard it would be to remove it. Mr. White explained that it could be a clean removal, or that there could be leftover adhesive that would have to be removed. Access to the property was briefly discussed. The other signage on the site was also discussed. In response to a question from the Board, Mr. White noted that the canopy signs were installed when the canopy was constructed. James Van Dover explained that the applicant accepted the terms which included removal of the sign on the north canopy side when the variance was approved for the sign on the east canopy side. This issue was discussed. There was a motion to approve the requested sign variance, as filed. The motion failed by a vote of 0 ayes, 4 nays and 1 absent. The application was denied. After a brief discussion, there was a second motion requiring the applicant to remove the sign from the north end of the canopy within 30 days. The motion passed by a vote of 3 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent.