HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7601 Staff AnalysisMarch 29, 2004
ITEM NO.: 7
File No.:
Owner:
Address:
Description:
Zoned:
Variance Requested:
Justification:
Present Use of Property:
Proposed Use of Property:
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
Z-7601
T. J. Raney
3600 Cantrell Road
Lots 15A and 1513, Mart, Inc. Replat of
Tract 15 Riverside Commercial Park
C-3
A variance is requested from the sign
provisions of Section 36-547 to allow a
ground sign with an electronic scrolling
message.
The applicant's justification is presented
in an attached letter.
Office/commercial
Office/commercial
1. No comment, sign placement is proposed outside of the public
right-of-way.
B. Staff Analysis:
The C-3 zoned property at 3600 Cantrell Road is occupied by a three (3)
story office/commercial building near the center of the property. There is
paved parking along the north, south and west sides of the building. Two
(2) driveways from Mart Drive serve as access to the property. The
property has three (3) street frontages; Cantrell Road to the west, Mart
Drive to the east and Cedar Hill Road to the south.
The applicant recently removed a ground -mounted sign near the
southwest corner of the property. The applicant is now proposing to
construct a new ground -mounted sign at the same location. The new sign
March 29, 2004
ITEM NO.: 7 (Cont.
will be monument -type with a brick face. The sign will be 10 feet — 4
inches in height, and contain the name of the building (T. J. Raney and
Sons, since 1931). The new sign is proposed to have a 34 Y2 inch by 64
inch electronic portion near the center of the sign. The electronic portion
is proposed to have a scrolling message containing current stock market
information, as described in the attached information from the applicant.
Section 36-547 of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows the illuminating of
signs, but Section 36-547(6) states that no sign shall utilize the following:
"The illusion of movement by means of a preprogrammed
repetitious sequential switching action in which illuminated
elements of the sign are turned off or on to visually simulate
the impression of motion characteristic of chasing, running,
blinking, oscillating, twinkling, scintillating, or expanding and
contracting light patterns."
Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow the scrolling
massage associated with the electronic portion of the proposed sign.
Additionally, the Board of Adjustment adopted Electronic Message Sign
Guidelines in 1992. These guidelines are attached for Board of
Adjustment review.
Staff is not supportive of the requested sign variance. Staff has no
problem with the proposed sign as long as the electronic portion conforms
with the above mentioned guidelines. The proposed sign is located along
a section of Cantrell Road which has a very high traffic volume. Staff
feels that the proposed electronic message sign will be a definite
distraction to motorists and will have a high potential for causing traffic
accidents. Staff's non-support of the requested variance is a safety issue.
Staff feels that the proposed scrolling electronic message will have a
negative impact on traffic in this area.
C. Staff Recommendations:
Staff recommends denial of the requested sign variance.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (MARCH 29, 2004)
Staff informed the Board that the applicant submitted a letter requesting that the
application be withdrawn. Staff supported the withdrawal, as requested.
The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and withdrawn by a vote of 5 ayes
and 0 nays.
K