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MAYOR
Tammy de Weerd
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CITY HALL
(208) 888-4433 - Fax 887-4813
PUBLIC WORKS
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
(208) 887-2211 - Fax 898-9551
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Keith Bird
Christine Donnell
Shaun Wardle
CharlesM,RounITee
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
(208) 888-4433 - FAX 887-4813
MEMORANDUM:
To:
From:
Mayor and City Council 'r Ii
Josh Wilson, Associate City Planneé;í~
King Electric Signs (CitiBank) Variance
Transmittal Date: July 21, 2005
City Council Hearing Date: July 26, 2005
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JUL2 1 2005
Re:
.
Cit}r Of l\hwidian
City Clerk OffiCE:
Request for a Variance to allow a second free-standing monument style
directional sign on the same street frontage for the CitiBank Building, by
King Electric Signs. (File No. VAR-O5-011).
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.
MCC ll-14-9D.I allows a second freestanding sign on a single street frontage, if approved as a
directional sign and reads as follows:
VAR-05-011
CitiBank.V ARdoc
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 of the lot, or approved as a directional sign.
In order to construct the directional sign as proposed, the applicant is requesting relief from the
following ordinance:
.
MCC ll-I4-9C.I, which reads as follows:
1. Directional and Information signs. Directional signs shall be no greater than four
(4) square feet in area and no more than four feet (4') in height. Ifbusiness
identification is used then it shall be secondary in all aspects to the primary use of
these signs for directional purposes as defined.
The applicant proposes to construct a second monument style directional sign on Cobalt Pointe
Way near the entrance to the visitor's parking lot approximately 400 feet north ofthe 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 recommends approval of the requested variance to to MCC 11-14-9c.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 C-G.
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.
REQUIRED 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 (MCCII-18-3), all of which must be determined before
granting a variance:
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 special circumstances affecting the property that would make
the strict application of the sign ordinance impracticable or unreasonable. Staff finds
that the unusually large building and lot for a single tenant does create a need for
VAR-05-011
CitiBank.V AR.doc
2
directional signage in order to minimize confusion. The existing building contains
approximately 176,289 square feet of office space and occupies a lot which is 28.03
acres in size. It is unusual for a building this large to have a single tenant, which
makes them ineligible for a Planned Sign Program for multiple signs of sufficient size
to function as intended. Staff finds that the size of the lot, configuration of the
building, and the physical conditions affecting the property is an extraordinary
hardship. The sign ordinance did not anticipate single tenant buildings of this size, and
has no provisions for adequate signage to promote efficient navigation of the site
through multiple large signs.
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 larger directional signage in order to minimize confusion and promote
efficient navigation of the site. Staff finds that the size of the lot, configuration of the
building, and the physical conditions affecting the property is an extraordinary
hardship.
Staff does find specific circumstances and conditions that make strict compliance with
MCCll-I4-9c.l unreasonable.
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. Staff finds that the granting of the variance
will be beneficial to the welfare of the public by minimizing traffic conflicts on the
adjoining public roadways, which could be caused by confused visitors who are unsure
of which building entrance to use. 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 not have
the effect of altering the purpose and interest of the Sign Ordinance.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
V AR-O5-0 11
CitiBank, V AR,doc
3
Staff recommends approval of this variance request for the following reasons:
.
Staff finds that the unusually large building and lot for a single tenant does create a
need for larger directional signage in order to minimize confusion and promote
efficient navigation of the site.
Staff finds that the granting of the variance will be beneficial to the welfare of the
public by minimizing traffic conflicts on the adjoining public roadways, which could
be caused by confused visitors who are unsure of which building entrance to use.
There are special circumstances affecting the property that would make the strict
application of the sign ordinance impracticable or unreasonable. Staff finds that the
size of the lot, configuration of the building, and the physical conditions affecting the
property is an extraordinary hardship.
The goals and objectives of the Sign Ordinance will not be compromised should a
variance be granted.
.
.
.
VAR-05-01l
CitiBank.V AR,doc
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