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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8371 Staff AnalysisJULY 28, 2008 ITEM NO.: 6 File No.: Z-8371 Owner: Central Arkansas Water Applicant: Joe O'Hara, CAW Address: 221 E. Capitol Avenue Description: Southwest Corner of E. Capitol Avenue and Cumberland Street Zoned: UU Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36- 342.1 to allow ground -mounted signs in the UU Zoning District. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Office and Parking Proposed Use of Property: Office and Parking STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments B. Staff Analvsis: The UU zoned property at 221 E. Capitol Avenue is occupied by multi -story office building within the north half of the property which houses Central Arkansas Water. The property is comprised of the east half of the block bounded by Capitol Avenue, Cumberland Street, E. 6th Street and Scott Street. The south half of the property contains a paved parking area for the office building. There is a drive-thru window on the east side of the building. There is an alley along the west side of the property, with access to the parking lot from E. Capitol Avenue and E. 6t" Street. There are currently five (5) small directional -type signs within the parking lot area. The applicant is proposing to refurbish the existing parking lot with asphalt overlay and new landscaped areas. As part of the project, the applicant is proposing to replace four (4) of the existing directional/informational signs with new, slightly larger signs, move one (1) of the existing signs, and install an JULY 28, 2008 ITEM NO.: 6 (CON additional sign at the southeast corner of the parking lot to identify the property. The attached site plan notes the sign locations as S1 through S6. S1 through S4 will be directional/informational signs to replace existing signs. S5 is the location of the new sign, with S6 being the relocation of an existing sign. The sizes of the proposed signs are noted on the attached sketches and are as follows: ■ S1 — Directional sign —12 square feet in area and 6 feet in height • S2 — "Handicap Parking" sign — 4 square feet in area and 6 feet in height • S3 — "Employee Parking Only" sign — 8 square feet in area and 5 feet in height • S4 — Directional sign — 4 square feet in area and 6 feet in height • S5 — Property Identification sign — 24 square feet in area and 7 feet in height • S6 — Existing Informational sign — 8 square feet in area and 6.5 feet in height Section 36-342.1 (c)(1 1) of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires that any ground -mounted signs in the UU zoning district be reviewed and approved by the Board of Adjustment. Section 36-550(5) typically allows two (2) directional/informational signs per lot, not to exceed four (4) square feet in area and six (6) feet in height. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow the signage plan for the property with ground -mounted signs in the UU zoning district. Staff is supportive of the requested sign variance. Staff views the request as reasonable. Four (4) of the proposed signs will replace existing signs on the property, with one (1) sign being moved to another location. The sign at the southeast corner of the parking lot which will identify the Central Arkansas Water building is relatively small in size, being 24 square feet in area and seven (7) feet in height. The way finding/informational signs will direct vehicles through the parking lot to the drive -through window location and identify areas of handicap parking, employee parking and no parking allowed. Staff believes the proposed signs will not be out of character with other properties in the general area, and will have no adverse impact on adjacent properties. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested sign variance, subject to a sign permit being obtained for the property identification sign at the southeast corner of the parking lot. J U LY 28, 2008 ITEM NO.: 6 (CON' BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (JULY 28, 2008) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval. The applicant offered no additional comments. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays and 1 recusal (Van Dover).