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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Comments MAYOR Tammy de Weerd roo... 0 /' "~~ ~ VYlmdiâ1l . - '\ IDAHO ./y. e ì. .fJ" ~ ",'-' "'TREASUro!V--= !"oil CITY HALL (208)888-4433-Fax887-4813 PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING DEPARTMENT (208) 887-2211 - Fax 898-9551 CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Keith Bird ChristiRe Donnell Shoun Wardle Charles M. Rountree LEGAL DEPARTMENT (208) 888-4433 - FAX 887-4813 MEMORANDUM: Transmittal Date: June 2, 2005 City Council Hearing Date: June 7, 2005 To: From: Mayor and City Council .r Ii Josh Wilson, Associate City Planneér~ King Electric Signs (CitiBank) Variance City Of Meridian . Request for a Variance to allow a second free-standing monumeJNrJffir1fuQffice same street frontage for the CitiBank Building, by King Electric Signs, (File No. VAR-O5-011). RECEIVED JUN 0 3 2005 Re: Planning and Zoning staff have reviewed the applicant's submittal, and we offer the following comments and recommendations: APPLICATION SUMMARY The applicant, King Electric Signs, has requested a variance from the City of Meridian's Sign Ordinance that prohibits more than free-standing sign on each street frontage for a single building with a single tenant. The applicant would like to install a second freestanding sign near the south entrance to the property in order to direct visitors to the proper building entrance. The proposed sign is 39 inches tall and 61 inches wide, with the "Citi" logo as the main element, and the words "Visitor Entrance" on the lower right hand side. The applicant has stated in their letter dated May 9, 2005, that the facility has a high level of security and visitors are trying to enter through the employee entrance, requiring the security offices to continually re-direct them to the other side of the building. The visitor's entrance is located on the other side of the building and served by a separate small parking lot, requiring visitors to get back into their vehicles, exit the parking lot, turn south on Cobalt Pointe Way, and travel south to the visitor's parking and entrance area. The applicant feels that the signage will alleviate confusion the visitors have about trying to find the building's entrance. The applicant is requesting relief from the following ordinance: . MCC ll-14-9D.l Free-Standing Signs (Single Building), which reads as follows: V AR-05-0I1 CitiBankVAR.doc D. Freestanding Signs (Single Building): In addition to the provisions of tables C through I in section 11-14-10 of this chapter, the following standards shall apply to all freestanding signs not part of a planned sign program: I. Number Allowed: No building occupied by a single tenant may be signed with more than one freestanding sign unless the sign is sited on a second public street frontage ofthe lot, or approved as a directional sign. 2. Maximum Height and Background Area: The sign height and background area shall be as provided in tables C through I in section 11-14-10 of this chapter. 3. Setbacks and Location: The sign shall be located as near the primary access driveway as practical. In all zoning districts, no part of the sign, including the footing, shall be located closer than five feet (5') from the side and rear property lines, unless greater separation is required. In commercial and industrial zones, no part of the sign, including the footing, shall be located closer than one foot (1') from the front property line. In residential and office zones, the setback shall be a minimum of five feet (5') from the front property line. 4. Illumination: Signs may utilize direct, indirect or intemallighting, except that the use of direct lighting in or adjacent to residential zones is prohibited. The applicant proposes to construct a second monument style sign on Cobalt Pointe Way near the entrance to the visitor's parking lot approximately 400 feet north of the south property line. This sign would be placed on the north side of the entry drive, approximately twenty feet (20') from the entry drive and thirty feet (30') from Cobalt Pointe Way. Staff is recommending denial ofthe requested variance to MCC 11-14-9D.1. LOCATION & SURROUNDING USES The subject property is located at 2200 S. Cobalt Pointe Way, in Silverstone Business Campus Subdivision, in southeast Meridian near Eagle Road and Overland Road. The following uses surround the subject property: North - Commercial properties in Silverstone Business Campus, zoned C-G. South - Commercial properties in Silverstone Business Campus, zoned CoG. East - Vacant land, zoned RUT (Ada County). West - Commercial properties in Silverstone Business Campus, zoned C-G. CURRENT OWNERS OF RECORD The owner of record is KDC Idaho Investments LP, and Tobin C. Grove, an authorized agent, has given consent for the King Electric Signs to submit the subject application. REOUIRED FINDINGS According to Ordinance 11-18-1, Variances, the Council may authorize in specific cases a variance from the terms of either the Zoning or Subdivision Ordinance. Specifically, the Ordinance lists the following Findings (MCCll-18-3), all of which must be determined before granting a variance: VAR-05-011 CitiBankVAR.doc 2 A. That there are such special circumstances or conditions affecting the property that the strict application of the provisions of this Title would clearly be impracticable or unreasonable; Staff finds that there are not special circumstances affecting the property that would make the strict application of the sign ordinance impracticable or umeasonable. The applicant already has the ability to place a directional sign on the property in order to direct visitors to the proper entrance. MCC 11-14-9D.l states specifically "Number Allowed: No building occupied by a single tenant may be signed with more than one freestanding sign unless the sign is sited on a second public street frontage of the lot, or approved as a directional sign." MCC 11-14-3 defines a directional sign as: "A sign which foremost contains words such as entrance, enter, exit, in, out, or characters indicating traffic directions and used either in conjunction with such words or separately." MCC 11-l4-9C Permanent Signs Allowed Without a Permit, allows "Directional or Public Service Information signs. Directional signs shall be no greater that four (4) square feet in area and no more than four feet (4') in height. If business identification is used, then it shall be secondary in all aspects to the primary use of these signs for directional purposes as defined." Under the provisions above, the applicant could, without a sign permit, construct a directional sign that contained the words "Visitor's Entrance" and the "Citi" logo (provided it was secondary to the directional wording) as long as it was four (4) square feet or less in size and four feet (4') or less in height. B. That strict compliance with the requirements of this Title would result in extraordinary hardship to the owner, subdivider or developer because of unusual topography, the nature or condition of adjacent development, other physical conditions or other conditions that make strict compliance with this Title unreasonable under the circumstances, or that the conditions and requirements of this Title will result in inhibiting the achievements or the objectives of this Title; Staff finds that the unusually large building and lot for a single tenant does create a need for directional signage in order to minimize confusion. However, staff does not find that the size of the lot, configuration of the building, or the physical conditions affecting the property is an extraordinary hardship. The Applicant can, without a sign permit, construct a directional sign that contained the words "Visitor's Entrance" and the "Citi" logo (provided it was secondary to the directional wording) as long as it were four (4) square feet or less in size and four feet (4') or less in height. Staff does not find specific circumstances and conditions that make strict compliance with MCCll-14-9D.l unreasonable, or that the conditions and requirements of this Title will result in inhibiting the achievements or objectives of the Zoning Ordinance and Sign Ordinance. VAR-05-01l CitiBank V AR.doc 3 C. That the granting of the specified variance will not be detrimental to the public's welfare or injurious to other property in the area in which the property is situated; Staff fInds that the requested variance will not be detrimental to the public's welfare or injurious to other properties in the area. However, the goals and objectives of the Sign Ordinance will be compromised should a variance be granted. The City Council should listen to any public testimony offered concerning whether or not the surrounding property owners feel that the requested variance will affect their properties. D. That such variance will not have the effect of altering the interest and purpose of this Title and the Meridian Comprehensive Plan. Staff finds that the issuance of a variance for the additional monument sign will have the effect of altering the purpose and interest of the Sign Ordinance. The Sign Ordinance provides for additional directional signs that could be placed on site without the need for a variance. Staff fails to see the justification of allowing a variance to the Sign Ordinance when an option that complies with the Sign Ordinance exists. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends denial of this variance request for the following reasons: . The applicant could, without a sign permit, construct a directional sign that contained the words "Visitor's Entrance" and the "Citi" logo (provided it was secondary to the directional wording) as long as it was four (4) square feet or less in size and four feet (4') or less in height. . Staff does not find that the size of the lot, configuration of the building, or the physical conditions affecting the property is an extraordinary hardship. . The goals and objectives of the Sign Ordinance will be compromised should a variance be granted. . Staff fails to see the justification of allowing a variance to the Sign Ordinance when an option that complies with the Sign Ordinance exists. VAR-05-011 CitiBankVAR.doc 4