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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7929 Staff AnalysisJANUARY 30, 2006 ITEM NO.: B File No.: Z-7929 Owner: Melton Properties Applicant: Jamie Garrett, Big Impressions Address: 305 President Clinton Avenue Description: South side of President Clinton Avenue, between Cumberland Street and Ottenheimer Plaza Zoned: UU Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Section 36- 553 to allow additional commercial signage. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Commercial Proposed Use of Property: Commercial STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments B. Staff Analysis: The UU zoned property at 305 President Clinton Avenue is occupied by a two- story commercial building. The ground floor of the building is occupied by Ten Thousand Villages, a commercial business. Ten Thousand Villages went before the River Market Design Review Committee (DRC) in May of this year and received approval of awnings with signage, a sandwich board sign and a sign on the window glass. None of these signs required any variances. The business is now before the Board of Adjustment requesting variances for two (2) additional signs. The applicant recently placed a projecting sign on the second level of the building and a sign on the glass portion of the front door to the business, as noted in the attached photos. JANUARY 30, 2006 ITEM NO.: B (CON'T. The first requested variance is from Section 36-353(c)(1) of the City's Zoning Ordinance (River Market Design Overlay District guidelines). This section allows a maximum of three (3) signs per business in the River Market District. The two (2) additional signs proposed will bring the total number of signs to five (5). The second requested variance is from Section 36-353(e)(1)b. This section states the "Height of projecting signs shall not extend past the sill of the second story windows." The projecting sign which was recently placed on the building is located entirely above the sills of the second story windows, and was placed on existing brackets. The final requested variance is from Section 36-353(e)(2)a., and also involves the projecting sign. This section states that "Projecting signs shall have a maximum of twelve (12) square feet of sign face per sign." The projecting sign in question has an area of approximately 13.6 square feet. The applicant proposes to illuminate this sign with lighting that will be compatible with existing lighting on other projecting signs in the district. The River Market Design Review Committee reviewed this request for additional signage on October 11, 2005. The DRC voted to deny the request for the projecting sign and the sign on the door. See the attached letter from River Market DRC staff for additional information. It has been staffs past practice to support the River Market Design Review Committee in their review and recommendations for variances in the River Market District. Therefore, staff cannot support the requested variances, as filed. As noted in the attached DRC letter, the DRC suggested that the applicant meet with the business owner, prioritize the signage needs and submit an amended application to the Board of Adjustment. To staffs knowledge, this has not taken place, as no amendments to the application have been requested. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff cannot support the requested sign variances, as filed. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (SEPTEMBER 26, 2005) Staff informed the Board that the River Market Design Review Committee was scheduled to review this application at its September 13, 2005 meeting. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (SEPTEMBER 26, 2005 CON'T.) The applicant was not present at that meeting. Therefore, the DRC will re -hear the item on October 11, 2005 as per their bylaws. Staff recommended this application be 2 JANUARY 30, 2006 TEM NO.: B (CON'T. deferred to the October 31, 2005 Board of Adjustment Agenda to allow time for the DRC review and recommendation. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the October 31, 2005 Agenda by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (OCTOBER 31, 2005) Staff informed the Board that the applicant submitted a letter requesting the application be deferred to the November 28, 2005 Agenda. Staff supported the deferral request. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the November 28, 2005 Agenda by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (NOVEMBER 28, 2005) Staff informed the Board that the applicant submitted a letter requesting the application be deferred to the January 30, 2006 Agenda. Staff supported the deferral request. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the January 30, 2006 Agenda by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (JANUARY 30, 2006) Staff informed the Board that the applicant had revised the application, eliminating the proposed projecting sign from the request. Staff noted that only one (1) variance remained, being the total number of signs at four (4). Staff recommended approval of the revised application, subject to the following conditions: 1. A sign permit must be obtained for each sign. 2. A franchise permit must be obtained for the sandwich board sign. 3. The projecting sign, including brackets, must be removed within 30 days. The applicant offered no additional comments. The item was placed on the consent Agenda and approved as amended and recommended by staff by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays. 3 September 13, 2005 ITEM NO.: 2 Name: Ten Thousand Villages Location: 305 Pres. Clinton Ave. Request: Projecting Sign and Sign on door Source: Jamie Garret, Big Impressions PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Ten Thousand Villages came before the DRC in May of this year for approval of the awnings with signage, a sandwich board and a sign in the window. None of the signs that were previously approved required any variances. The request on this agenda is for two additional signs: a projecting sign and a sign on the door. The business already has the maximum of three signs allowed. Any additional signage will require variances as stated in Section 36- 353 (c)(1)b Signs shall not number more than three (3) per business." The projecting sign is a 28" by 70" (13.611 square feet in area). The sign is cream background with red stripes on the top and bottom with the logo centered in the sign. The words "Ten Thousand Villages" are in the lower section of the sign immediately under the logo. This projecting sign will require two variances: Section 36 353 (e)(1)b. states the "Height of projecting signs shall not extend past the sill of the second story windows," and Section 36 353 (e)(2)a states that "Projecting signs shall have a maximum of twelve (12) square feet of sign face per sign." The sign will be illuminated with lighting that will be compatible with existing lighting on other projecting signs. Other projecting signs are located in the district above the windowsill of the second story windows. These businesses are either located entirely on the second floor (the old Starr's Guitars"), have rented space on the second floor (Ernie Biggs's) or are located on a side street with no frontage on Pres. Clinton Avenue (Bosco's). In no way, do any •= i l'' is � ij � : `s��v W View from east yrs. _ t 3 ��. a '•q,�„ Projecting sign as installed of the previous actions of the DRC act as precedence, but the application in review does not fit the criteria of the previous actions. As shown in the photos, the projecting sign will be obscured by trees within a few years and will be rendered useless. The other sign is located on the door and Measures 8" by 8" (0.44 square feet in area). It has the logo in white vinyl applied to the glass with he words "Ten Thousand Villages" beneath the logo. The sign is on the right door in the center. Staff feels that with the placement of the sandwich board in the brick strip near the door and the awning sign directly over the door, (both were previously approved), there is sufficient signage on the street level without the sign on the door. The three other signs on the street level are well done, tasteful, and should serve the intent well. Applicant will be responsible for obtaining a sign permit for each sign. The applicant has sign permits for the following signs: #24160 for the wall sign in the window and #24159 for the sandwich board. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Door r �:: ; I rig' s ■ '�1 :t Existing Door sign Staff recommends approval of the application as filed, with a suggestion to remove one of the wall signs on the glass, preferably the one of the door.