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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-8995 Staff AnalysisDECEMBER 15, 2014 ITEM NO.: 9 File No.: Owner: Applicant: Address: Description: Zoned: Z-8995 Junior League of Little Rock Patty Opitz 401 S. Scott Street Southwest corner of E. 4t" and Cumberland Streets LL Variance Requested: A variance is requested from the sign provisions of Section 36-342.1 to allow placement of a ground -mounted sign in the UU zoning district. Justification: The applicant's justification is presented in an attached letter. Present Use of Property: Parking Lot Proposed Use of Property: Parking Lot STAFF REPORT 0 Public Works Issues: No Comments Staff Analysis: The UU zoned property at 401 S. Scott Street is occupied by a four (4) story office building within the west half of the property. The property is located at the southeast corner of Scott Street and E. 4th Street. The building is occupied by the Junior League of Little rock. There is a paved parking lot within the east portion of the property, extending to Cumberland Street. Access drives are located along the E. 4t" Street and Cumberland Street frontages. The applicant recently began reconstruction of the existing parking lot. The lot will be re -paved with curb and gutter and landscaping. The project will also include a new six (6) foot high metal fence with brick columns. The fence will be located along the north, south and east property lines, and along a portion of the west property line at the southeast corner of the existing building. A angled monument - style ground sign is proposed at the northeast corner of the property in conjunction with the fence construction. The monument sign will be approximately four (4) feet high and 12.33 feet long. The ends of the sign will be located five (5) to six (6) feet back from the north and east property lines. The sign will be for the "Junior League of Little Rock" with their logo. DECEMBER 15, 2014 ITEM NO.: 9 (CON'T.' Section 36-342.1(c)(11) of the City's Zoning Ordinance notes that ground -mounted signs are discouraged in the UU zoning district and may only be permitted as a variance by the Board of Adjustment. Therefore, the applicant is requesting a variance to allow the ground -mounted sign in the UU zoning district. Staff is supportive of the requested variance to allow a ground -mounted sign on the UU zoned property at 401 S. Scott Street. Staff views the request as reasonable. The proposed sign will not be out of character with other monument - style ground signs throughout the UU zoning district. Monument -style ground signs have recently been approved along W. 3rd Street and south on Main Street. Staff feels that the proposed sign is relatively minor in size, and believes the sign will have no adverse impact on the adjacent properties or the general area. The Public Works Department has reviewed the proposed sign request and had no comments. Public Works will need to sign off on the sign permit prior to issuance. C. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the requested sign variance, subject to Public works signing -off on the required sign permit prior to it being issued. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT (December 15, 2014) 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 5 ayes, 0 nays and 0 absent. The application was approved.