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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7931-A Staff AnalysisNOVEMBER 24, 2008 ITFM NCS_- A File No.: Z-7931 -A Owner: Central Arkansas Library System Applicant: Ed Sergeant/PSRCP Architects Address: 401-409 President Clinton Avenue Description: South side of President Clinton Avenue, between Rock and Commerce Streets Zoned: UU Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-353 to allow signage, which varies from the River Market Design Overlay District standards. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Vacant Commercial Building Proposed Use of Property: Library STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments. B. Staff Analysis: The UU zoned property at 401-409 President Clinton Avenue contains new building construction and renovation of existing buildings for the Arkansas Studies Institute (Central Arkansas Library System) and Clinton School of Public Service. On September 25, 2005 the Board of Adjustment approved variances associated with the new building construction and signage plan for the property. Work is progressing on the new building construction and building renovation. The applicant is now requesting to add four (4) signs to the previously approved signage plan for the property. The signs are labeled as "J" through "M" on the attached site plan and sketches. The proposed additional signs are as follows: NOVEMBER 24, 2008 ITEM NO.: A CON'T. Sign "J" — 50 square foot wall sign on the north side of the building ("Clinton School of Public Service"), located on the third story level of the building. ■ Sign "K'— 50 square foot wall sign on the south wall of the building ("Arkansas Studies Institute"), located on the third story level of the building. ■ Sign "L" — 100 square foot wall sign on the south wall of water tank building feature (Arkansas Studies Institute "logo"), located above the third story level of building. ■ Sign "M" — 30 square foot wall sign on the east wall of the building ("Arkansas Studies Institute"), located on the third story level of the building. Section 36-353(c)(1)a. of the City's Zoning Ordinance (sign criteria for River Market District) requires that signs not extend above the second floor window sill of a building. Section 36-353(c)(2) allows a maximum sign area of 25 square feet per sign. Section 36-353(a)(1)h. requires that signs face public street right-of-way, except those permitted on facades facing the Arkansas River. Section 36-353(c)(1)b. allows a maximum of three (3) signs per business. Therefore, the applicant is requesting variances from these ordinance standards to allow all four (4) signs to be located above the second floor windowsill and to be greater than 25 square feet in area, and to have more than three (3) total signs (four) for the Arkansas Studies Institute. Additionally, a variance is requested to allow the sign on the east facade with no direct street frontage. Staff is supportive of the requested sign variances. Staff believes the development and redevelopment plan for this property is a quality one, which will be a very nice addition to the River Market District and overall downtown area. The River Market Design Review Committee reviewed the proposed signage plan on August 8, 2008 and approved the proposed signs as submitted. The overall area of proposed signage is minimal, given the overall area of building fagade associated with the development. With respect to the number of sign proposed, the development has three (3) street frontages, with the east building fagade being separated from Commerce Street by a parking lot owned by another party. Staff believes the proposed additional signs for the proposed development will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or general area. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested sign variances, subject to a sign permit being obtained for each sign. NOVEMBER 24, 2008 TEM NO.: A (CON'T BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (AUGUST 25, 2008) Staff informed the Board that the application needed to be deferred to the September 29, 2008 Agenda based on the fact that the applicant failed to complete the notifications to surrounding property owners as required. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the September 29, 2008 Agenda as recommended by staff with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. Staff Update - On date: On September 2, 2008, the applicant submitted a letter to staff requesting this item be deferred to the October 27, 2008 Agenda. Staff supports the deferral request. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (SEPTEMBER 29, 2008) Staff informed the Board that the applicant requested the application be deferred to the October 27, 2008 Agenda. Staff supported the deferral request. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the October 27, 2008 Agenda as recommended by staff with a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (OCTOBER 27, 2008) Staff informed the Board that the applicant requested the application be deferred to the November 24, 2008 Agenda. Staff supported the deferral request. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and deferred to the November 24, 2008 Agenda as recommended by staff with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (NOVEMBER 24, 2008) Ed Sergeant and Linda Bly were present, representing the application. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the application with a recommendation of approval. Ed Sergeant addressed the Board in support of the application. He described the proposed sign on the water tower, as it was identified as the only sign of concern to one (1) of the Board members. He explained that the water tower was previously removed from the building and recently reattached as an architectural feature. James Van Dover commented that there was going to be ample signage on the building, and asked why the logo on the water tower was essential. Mr. Sergeant explained that the logo on the tower would aid in identifying the building and its use NOVEMBER 24, 2008 ITEM NO.: A (CON'T. from a distance. Linda Bly explained that historically water towers had graphics on them. The issue was discussed further. There was additional discussion related to the proposed sign on the water tower and where it would be visible from. The size of he proposed sign was also discussed. There was additional discussion related to the number of signs proposed for the building. Mr. Sergeant explained that the sign on the east side of the building would have very little visibility if the property immediately to the east develops. Mr. Van Dover referenced the height of the sign on the building. This issue was discussed as was the issue of the historic nature of the water tower. There was a motion to approve the variances associated with signs J, K and M, as described in the staff report and recommended by staff. The motion passed by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. There was a second motion to approve the variances associated with sign L, as described in the staff report and recommended by staff. The second motion passed by a vote of 3 ayes, 1 nay and 1 absent. 79 APPLICATION FOR A NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING VARIANCE =COVER LETTER - July 24, 2008 The ARKANSAS STUDIES INSTITUTE (ASI) is a joint venture between The Central Arkansas Library System and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Center will serve as a public library which will house under one roof the CAL's Butler Center for Arkansas History, the UALR Archives and Special Collections and the Clinton Gubernatorial Papers Project which will include the Institute of Arkansas Governmental Studies. This project was reviewed and variances granted by the Board of Adjustment at its meeting September 26, 2005, Case No. Z-7931. ASI is currently under construction in the 400 block of President Clinton Avenue in the River Market District of Little Rock, Arkansas. It includes the adaptive re -use of the Geyer and Adams and Budget Furniture Buildings with a new addition on the Rock Street or west side. The building is built to all property lines. It adjoins President Clinton -Avenue to the north, Rock Street to. the west (owned by CALS with utility easements) and alleys to the east and south. The alley and parking lot to the south are owned by GALS. The variances are requested since the building is visible from all sides and contains several public agencies and tenants. While the building functions internally as one, it has several doors on the street which provide separate points of access f6r its patrons. Separate street addresses on President Clinton Avenue have been assigned to accommodate their needs: 401 —Arkansas Studies Institute, 405 — Geyer and Adams tenant, 407 — Budget Building tenants on levels 2 and 3 and 407 —Budget Building Museum.