HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7832 Staff AnalysisAPRIL 25, 2005
ITEM NO.: 13
File No.: Z-7832
Owner: Nidia and Robert Cochran
Applicant: Glenn Bearden
Address: 501 Brookside Drive
Description: Northeast corner of Brookside Drive and Rodney Parham Road
Zoned: O-3
Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of
Section 36-553 to allow a ground -mounted sign which exceeds the maximum
height and area allowed.
Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter.
Present Use of Property: Office
Proposed Use of Property: Office
STAFF REPORT
A. Public Works Issues:
1. No Comments, proposed sign is shown outside the right-of-way.
B. Staff Analysis:
The 0-3 zoned property at 501 Brookside Drive (northeast corner of
Brookside Drive and Rodney Parham Road) is occupied by a one-story
office building located along the north property line. There is paved
parking along the south side of the building, with an access drive from
Brookside Drive. The parking lot is located approximately three (3) to
four (4) feet below the grade of Rodney Parham Road. A 12 foot high
ground -mounted sign is located at the southwest corner of the property,
within the parking lot area.
The applicant proposes to remove the existing ground -mounted sign and
construct a new ground -mounted sign at the southwest corner of the
parking lot. The new sign will be a monument style sign (masonry
APRIL 25, 2005
ITEM NO.: 13 CON'T.
construction) with a height of 10 feet. The sign will consist of two (2)
identical sections in a "v" shape, as noted on the attached site plan
sketch. The sign will be located six (6) feet from the south and west
property lines. The sign will have an overall area of approximately 160
square feet (including the ornamental masonry features of the sign).
The actual copy on the sign will comprise approximately 90 square feet.
Section 36-553(a)(2) of the City's Zoning Ordinance allows a maximum
sign height of six (6) feet and a maximum sign area of 64 square feet for
ground -mounted signs in office zones. Therefore, the applicant is
requesting variances from these ordinance standards to allow the
proposed sign.
Staff does not support the variances, as requested. Staff has no
problem with the 10 foot sign height, given the fact that the property is
located 3 to 4 feet below the grade of Rodney Parham Road. However,
staff does not feel that the proposed sign area is appropriate for a small
office development. Staff could support an increased sign height and
area if the two (2) panels of the sign were placed back -to back and
constructed perpendicular to the front (south) property line. This would
result in the 10 foot height as requested, and an area of approximately
80 to 90 square feet. Staff feels that this would be a reasonable
compromise for ground -mounted signage for this small office
development.
C. Staff Recommendation:
Staff recommends denial of the requested sign variances, as filed.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (APRIL 25, 2005)
Staff informed the Board that the applicant revised the application to align
with staff's suggestion. The sign will have a height of 10 feet, a width of 9
feet, with 5 foot wide sign copy. The sign will be placed perpendicular to the
Rodney Parham Road right-of-way, with copy on both sides of the sign. The
sign will also be at least 5 feet back from property lines. Staff recommended
approval of the revised application subject to a sign permit being obtained.
The revised application 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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