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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7931-B Staff AnalysisOCTOBER 28, 2013 ITEM NO.: 2 File No.: Z-7931 -B Owner: Central Arkansas Library System Applicant: Jim Thacker, Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects Address: 401-409 President Clinton Avenue Description: Southeast corner of President Clinton Avenue and S. Rock Street Zoned: UU Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-353 to allow an increased number of projecting signs. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Proposed Use of Property: STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments. B. Staff Anal sis: The UU zoned property at 401-409 President Clinton Avenue is occupied by a three- story commercial building. The building houses the Central Arkansas Library System's Arkansas Studies Institute and one (1) tenant (Four Square Caf6 and Gifts). The property owner, Central Arkansas Library System, proposes to install four (4) projecting signs to the north fagade of the Arkansas Studies Institute building along President Clinton Avenue, as noted in the attached sketch packet. The signs would identify individual library departments as well as Four Square Cafe and Gifts. The four projecting signs would each be 24' square feet in area and project approximately 2'-9" from the face of the wall to the outside edge of the sign. The arm to hold the sign will project 36" from the wall. The signs have the following text on them: Arkansas Studies Institute Butler Center Galleries; 4Square Cafe & Gifts; Butler Center Galleries Concordia Hall; and Arkansas Humanities Council Clinton School of Public Service UALR. The individual signs conform to the size requirement, but do not conform to the spacing requirement as set in the ordinance. OCTOBER 28, 2013 ITEM NO.: 2 (CON'T. Section 36-353(e)(1)d. of the City's Zoning Ordinance reads as follows: "d. The number of projecting signs shall be limited to one (1) sign per one hundred (100) feet of primary street frontage per building." Overall continuous fagade of the building is approximately 147 feet. Two (2) signs could be placed 100 feet apart along the facades and meet the ordinance. Three (3) signs or more will require a variance. The distances between the signs are: From A to B is approximately 43'; From B to C is approximately 26'; and From C to D is approximately 27'. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow two (2) additional projecting signs along the existing fagade area. Staff is supportive of the requested variance to allow two (2) additional projecting signs to the two (2) allowed by ordinance. Staff views the request as reasonable. The proposed signs will identify the individual library departments within the Arkansas Studies Institute and the Four Square Cafe and Gifts. The overall sign area is very minimal when compared to the overall facade area of the three-story building. The River Market Design Review Committee has reviewed the proposed signage and voted unanimously to approve (October 8, 2013) the request, subject to the signage for Four Square Cafe and Gifts being in compliance with all other ordinance standards. The applicant will need to work with Brian Minyard of the City's Planning staff to assure that the overall signage and incidental signage for Four Square Cafe and Gifts is brought into compliance. Otherwise, Staff believes the proposed projecting signs will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the general area. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested projecting sign variance, subject to the following conditions: 1. Compliance with the River Market DRC approved of October 8, 2013. 2. All other sign code requirements must be complied with. 3. The projecting signs must maintain a clearance of at least nine (9) feet above the sidewalk. 4. A sign permit must be obtained for each sign. 5. A franchise permit must be obtained since the projecting signs overhang the sidewalk/right-of-way. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT (October 28, 2013) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the application with a recommendation of approval. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda for approval as recommended by staff. The vote was 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. The application was approved. (2) Appearance. Signs shall not exceed one half (1/2) of a square foot of sign area for each linear foot of street building frontage, not exceeding twenty- five (25) square feet per sign. (3) Sign illumination. Signs shall not be internally illuminated with the exception of channel and channelume signs. When signs are externally lit, they shall be illuminated from a concealed source of light or a decorative source that is integral to the design of the sign. PROPOPSAL ANALYSIS: The application requests the installation of one (1) line of lettering beneath the existing third floor sign. The lettering will read, "Center on Community Philanthropy". The sign will be composed of stainless-steel lettering and will be 9 inches tall and 197 inches long (9" x 197"), totaling 12.3 square feet. The sign depth is 1.5 inches and will be flush mounted to the masonry. The sign will be located on the building parapet wall, above the third story windows, just below the existing sign. The sign will be externally illuminated with existing lighting. Concerning appearance, this sign is compatible to the unique character of the district and avoids disrupting or covering significant architectural features. The lettering, as shown in the provided rendering, avoids covering the metal star shaped washers, "star bolts", along the upper fagade. The sign also conforms to lighting and material requirements. The sign does not conform to size or height requirements as set in the ordinance, Sec. 36- 353(c)(1)(a) and (c)(2). (1)Location. a. Except as permitted in subsection (b) the maximum sign height on a building shall not extend above the second floor windowsill or above the overhang of a single story building. (2) Appearance. Signs shall not exceed one half (1/2) of a square foot of sign area for each linear foot of street building frontage, not exceeding twenty-five (25) square feet per sign. Concerning height, the sign is placed above the maximum permitted height for multi -story structures. Concerning size, the allowable area permitted is 22.5 square feet. The overall continuous fagade of the building is approximately 45 linear feet. The existing sign is 45 square feet. With the proposed addition of a line of lettering at 12.3 square feet, the total sign would be 57.3 square feet. The proposed sign exceeds the allowable square footage by 34.8 square feet. Previous actions on this site include the recommendation of approval by the River Market Design Review Committee for the existing Clinton School sign in 2008 (RM2008-007). Following this action was the approval by the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustments for a zoning variance in 2008 (Z-7931-A)to allow a 50 square foot sign at this location above the third story windows. 3