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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8468 Staff AnalysisJUNE 29, 2009 �►A101Cel I W1. File No.: Z-8468 Owner: Bank of the Ozarks and Mainstream Technologies Applicant: Jasper S. Barton, Jr./ Cuerden Sign Co. Address: 325 W. Capitol Avenue Description: Southeast corner of W. Capitol Avenue and S. Spring Street Zoned: UU Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36- 342.1 to allow a ground- mounted sign. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Bank and Offices Proposed Use of Property: Bank and Offices STAFF REPORT A. Public Works Issues: 1. Obtain a franchise agreement from Public Works (Bennie Nicolo, 371-4818) for the private improvements located in the right-of-way. B. Staff Analysis: The UU zoned property at 325 W. Capitol Avenue contains a three-story office building which previously housed the Federal Reserve Bank facilities. The property is located at the southeast corner of W. Capitol Avenue and S. Spring Street. There is a paved parking lot on the south side of the building. A paved alley is located along the building's east side. Driveways from S. Spring Street and the alley access the parking lot. The building is currently being remodeled for a new property owner, Bank of the Ozarks. As part of the remodeling project, a new canopy structure will be constructed over the building entry at the northeast corner of the building, along JUNE 29, 2009 ITEM NO.: 6 (Con't.) W. Capitol Avenue. The canopy will be approximately 12 feet by 41 feet in area, with a height of approximately 16 feet. The applicant is proposing a new ground -mounted sign at the west end of the canopy structure. The sign will be approximately 18.5 feet in height, with an area of approximately 127.5 square feet. The sign will be located in an area between the building and the W. Capitol Avenue right-of-way. The sign structure will be constructed from the same type of stone/granite as the building. The letters and logo will be fabricated from polished stainless steel. The sign will be flood light illuminated from the ground. Section 36-342.1 (c)(1 1) of the City's Zoning Ordinance (UU District Standards) states that ground signs may only be allowed in the UU district as a variance approved by the Board of Adjustment. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow the ground -mounted sign. Staff is supportive of the requested variance. Staff believes the request is reasonable, as the sign will be relatively small in scale as compared to the overall building area. Although the applicant has attempted to make the sign part of the canopy structure, staff views the sign as a ground -mounted sign. It will have the appearance of being a wing wall of the canopy structure. The bank building is set back from the north and west street side property lines, with ample area for the sign structure. The ground -mounted sign will be more pedestrian oriented in scale as compared to a possible larger sign placed on the wall of the building. Staff believes the proposed ground -mounted sign will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or general area. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested variance to allow a ground - mounted sign in the UU zoning district, subject to the following conditions: 1. The sign must not exceed the height and area dimensions as noted in the staff report. 2. A sign permit must be obtained for the sign. 3. The sign must be set back at least five (5) feet from the north property line. 4. There are to be no other ground -mounted signs located on the property. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: (JUNE 29, 2009) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval subject to compliance with the conditions outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved by a vote of 4 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent.