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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8393 Staff AnalysisSEPTEMBER 29, 2008 ITEM NO.: 7 File No.: Z-8393 Owner: Freeman Living Trust Applicant: Jordan Blaylock, Autowerks Address: 815 S. Broadway Description: East side of S. Broadway, between W. 8tn and W. 9tn Streets Zoned: UU Variance Requested: Variances are requested from the sign provisions of Sections 36-557 and 36-553 to allow a wall sign without direct street frontage and which exceeds ten (10) percent of the fagade area. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Auto Repair Proposed Use of Property: Auto Repair STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: No Comments. B. Staff Analysis: The UU zoned property at 815 S. Broadway is occupied by a one-story commercial building. The property is located on the east side of S. Broadway, between W. 8tn and W. 9tn Streets. The building faces S. Broadway and contains an auto repair type use, with vehicles entering the building from S. Broadway. A portion of the south building wall (15 feet by 40 feet) faces W. gtn Street, with one (1) property located between the building and W. 9th Street. The applicant proposes to place a 9 foot by 9 foot wall sign on the south building wall, as noted on the attached sketches. The proposed wall sign will be a commercial grade vinyl banner attached flush to the wall with grommets and wall anchors. The proposed sign will cover approximately 13 percent of the exposed south wall of the building, with the sign being visible from S. Broadway (north bound traffic) and W. 9tn Street. There are two (2) small existing signs (awning and wall) on the front (west side ) of the building. SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 ITEM NO.: 7 ICON'T. Section 36-557(a) of the City's Zoning Ordinance requires that all wall signs face required street frontage. Section 36-553(a)(2)a. allows wall signs to occupy up to 10 percent of a building facade area. Therefore, the applicant is requesting variances from these ordinance standards to allow the wall sign on the south building facade with no direct street frontage and to occupy 13 percent of the south building facade. Staff does not support the variances, as requested. Staff has no problem with a wall sign being located on the south building facade, but feels that the sign should occupy no more than 10 percent of the south building wall. Staff believes the proposed wall sign on the south fagade will not be out of character with other signs in the area. The buildings within the west half of this block share common walls and have the appearance of being one (1) large building rather than several smaller buildings. If the applicant were willing to limit the wall sign to 10 percent (60 square feet total) of the south fagade area and have no additional signs on the west wall of the building, staff could support the variance to allow a wall sign without street frontage. Staff believes a wall sign without street frontage at this location will aid in identifying the business and have no adverse impact on the area. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends denial of the requested sign variances, as filed. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (SEPTEMBER 29, 2008) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item. Staff noted that the applicant had revised the application to reduce the proposed wall sign to 60 square feet (10 percent of the south fagade area) and remove the small wall sign on the west fagade. The variance for a sign exceeding 10 percent of the fagade area was eliminated with the revision. Staff recommended approval of the requested sign variance (sign without street frontage), as revised subject to the following conditions: 1. Sign permits must be obtained for all signs. 2. Any signage on the west fagade must conform to ordinance standards. The applicant offered no additional comments. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 5 ayes and 0 nays.