HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - Board of Adjustment - 2016 - 09/12 - Regular;V��
BOARD OF
SIGN CONTROLROL BOARD
BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION
' Regular Meeting
CITY OF ALLEN September 12,2016
ATTENDANCE:
Board Members Present:
Gene Autrey, Chairman
Deborah Angell Smith, I° Vice -Chair
Ken Barry, 2n° Vice -Chair
Bruce Howard, Alternate
Craig Gillis
Dan Metevier, Alternate
Kimberly Clarkson -Harrison
Absent:
City Staff Present:
Ogden `Bo" Bass, AICP, Director of Community Development
Kurt Kasson, CBO, Building Official
Meredith Norge, Planner
Call to Order and Announce a Ouorum is Present
' With a quorum of the Board Members present, Chairman Autrey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
in the City Hall Council Chambers Conference Room at Allen City Hall, 305 Century Parkway.
Consent Aeenda
1. Approve minutes from the August 1, 2016, Building and Standards Commission Regular
Meeting.
Motion: Upon a Motion by I" Vice -Chair Smith and a second by Board Member
Metevier, the Board voted 7 IN FAVOR and 0 OPPOSED, to approve the
Consent Agenda.
The Motion Carried.
Reeular Aeenda
2. Sign Control Board Public Hearing — Conduct a Public Hearing and consider a variance to
Section 7.09 of the Allen Land Development Code, as amended, relating to a request to increase
the maximum allowable wall signage area for the property located at 700 Rivercrest Boulevard,
Allen, Texas. (SV -8/26/16-77) [Church Eleven 321
Mr. Bo Bass, Director of Community Development, stated that the property is generally located east of
Greenville Ave., south of Exchange Pkwy., and north of McDermott Dr.; more specifically at the
' southeast comer of Greenville Ave. and Rivercrest Blvd.
Mr. Bass explained that the request is to allow the maximum wall signage area to be increased for Church
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
SIGN CONTROL BOARD
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 PAGE 2
' Eleven 32. The property has access to two public roads, Rivercrest Blvd. and Pebblebrook Dr., with
parking on three sides. The applicant is requesting to expand the signage facing Rivercrest Blvd. and
Greenville Ave. and the signage facing Pebblebrook Dr. The site is zoned w Community Facilities CF.
Mr. Bass discussed the purview of the Board, which has authority regarding to the bulk, area, and height
of signage. He said the Board considers the following when making decisions: the degree of the variance,
reasons of the variance, location of the property, duration of the sign, effect on public safety, protection of
neighborhood property, degree of hardship or injustice, and the effect of the variance on the general City
plan.
Mr. Bass said that the Allen Lund Development Code is a living document. Mr. Bass said that larger
structures and changes in architecture may suggest changes to the code. Church Eleven 32 is classified as
"Institutional Signage" that can only be 32 st regardless of the size of the building; however, churches
over time are getting larger, but the sign code has not evolved with this change. Mr. Bass is proposing a
variance to allow the signage to be proportional to the size of the building.
Mr. Bass stated that the other sign located on the southeast corner, facing Pebblebrook Dr., is proposed at
a copy area of 38 s.f versus 32 s.f. permitted by the code.
Chairman Autrey asked if Church Eleven 32 should request a change in zoning to make this process any
easier.
Mr. Bass said that a change in zoning is an option; however, he said that signage being disproportionate
' to the building is systemic. He said that altering the ordinance would be a better long term solution.
20° Vice -Chair Barry asked what happens when something gets built between the property and Greenville
Ave.
Mr. Bass said that this is the main entrance to the church and that someone could build next door and
block the view; however, we cannot anticipate that because the church could sell the property and the use
could change. He said the side of the church facing Greenville Ave. is a larger elevation, being the main
entry point into the church. Mr. Bass said that the elevation is larger to allow better visibility from
Greenville Ave.
Chairman Autrey asked who will see the sign on the southeast side other than those walking in from the
parking lot.
Mr. Bass stated that the property is able to have two wall signs because it has two street frontages.
Chairman Autrey asked if there has been consideration for a monument sign.
Mr. Bass said yes, the ordnance provides one monument sign for each street frontages on Rivercrest Blvd.
and Pebblebrook Dr. This property is permitted to have two wall signs and two monument signs.
Board Member Howard asked if the signs are lit.
' Ms. Donna Kent, Operations Director for Church Eleven 32, said that the larger sign on the two story
elevation has individual illuminated letters. The Pebblebrook Dr. sign has vinyl letters.
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SIGN CONTROL BOARD
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 PAGE 3
' Board Member Howard asked if there was ever consideration for a smaller sign.
Ms. Kent asked on which elevation.
Board Member Howard clarified for the sign visible from Greenville Ave.
Ms. Kent described how the wall is stained concrete, designed to be a place for the name of the church.
Ms. Kent explained that the previous existing building had a steeple, which was removed, and replaced
with the name of the church, "Church Eleven 32". She said that they desired a larger size so it could be
read. Ms. Kent stated that the church owns the property.
Mr. Bass said that the property is zoned appropriately and explained that if the church was zoned the
same as a commercial building, the sign could be as large as 244 s.f.
1° Vice -Chair Smith said that the sign looks a little large.
2° Vice -Chair Barry said that the sign looks out of proportion.
Ms. Kent said that the building is cropped off in the photo which may be why it appears out of proportion.
Chairman Autrey said he drove by the church which is a lot larger than the picture depicts.
Mr. Bass explained that staff will be coming to the Board for future possible changes to the ordinance.
' 2"s Vice -Chair Barry asked if the sign would be lit 24/7.
Ms. Kent said that the light would go off at an appropriate time.
Mr. Bass said that the City has a very heavy enforced light pollution ordinance. If the light is left on and
causes glare, staff could address the issue.
1" Vice -Chair Smith voiced concern about setting a precedence with other properties; however, she
understood that this may be the direction the City is going.
Board Member Howard asked how the applicant would feel if the sign was a variance of three times the
allowable.
Ms. Kent said that the proposal was developed with guidance from the sign company and
recommendations from the architect.
Chairman Autrey opened the public hearing.
Chairman Autrey closed the public hearing.
Board Member Howard stated that he was in favor of a variance of three times the allowable.
' 1" Vice -Chair Smith said she was in favor of four times the allowable, making it 120 s.f, versus 150 s.f.
Chairman Autrey suggested using a temporary, stake sign one for the Pebblebrook Dr. side.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
SIGN CONTROL BOARD
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
' 1" Vice -Chair Smith stated she was fine with the Pebblebrook Dr. side as is
PAGE
Motion: Upon a Motion by P' Vice -Chair Smith, and a second by Board Member
Howard, the Board voted 2 IN FAVOR and 5 OPPOSED (Chairman Autrey, 2°d
Vice -Chair Barry, and Board Member Metevier, Board Member Clarkson -
Harrison and Board Member Gillis) to approve a variance to increase the
maximum allowable square footage to 128 s.f. for the elevation facing Rivercrest
Blvd. and no increase in signage for the elevation facing Pebblebrook Dr.
The Motion Did Not Carry.
Motion: Upon a Motion by Board Member Clarkson -Harrison, and a second by Board
Member Gillis, the Board voted 6 IN FAVOR and 1 OPPOSED (2"d Vice -Chair
Barry) to approve the proposed copy area of 158.7 s.f. for the elevation facing
Rivercrest Blvd. and 38 s.f. in signage for the elevation facing Pebblebrook Dr.
The Motion Carried.
3. Board of Adjustment Public Hearing — Conduct a Public Hearing and consider a request to
approve the use of alternate building materials for Montgomery Tree Farm Shed. The property is
a 14.58± acre portion in the Joseph H Wilcox Survey, Abstract No. 1017; generally located south
of Alma Drive and east of Old Bethany Road. (BOA -7/28/16-3) [1215 Tamm Drive
(Montgomery Tree Farm Shed)]
' Mr. Kurt Kasson, Building Official, described the property. The property is located south of Bethany Dr.
and east of Alma Dr., and zoned agricultural. The use is non-residential and the proposed structure will be
used to support Montgomery Tree Farms of Texas and Connemara Conservancy.
Mr. Kasson provided an overview of the property and said the structure will house tractors and other
equipment.
Mr. Kasson said that structures like this are rarely constructed with 100% masonry and often constructed
utilizing materials such as sheet metal and structural timbers. The structure will be placed where it will
generally not be seen by the public.
Chairman Autrey asked if the floor would be concrete.
Mr. Philip Williams, General Partner of Montgomery Tree Farms, Applicant, stated the floor is proposed
to be gravel.
1° Vice -Chair Smith asked how long the property would be used.
Mr. Williams said that it is for long-term use.
Board Member Gillis asked about access for fire apparatus on Tatum Road.
' Mc Williams described the entrance on Tatum Road. The shed will be in front of this road and will be
accessible by fire apparatus.
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SIGN CONTROL BOARD
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 PAGE 5
' Chairman Autrey opened the public hearing.
Lance Bergstram, 1360 Francis Way, Allen, Texas, stated that he does not have an issue with the change
in building materials, but is concerned about other structures on the property that may come in the future.
V Vice -Chair Smith confirmed that the variance does not apply to any future structures on the property.
Chairman Autrey closed the public hearing.
Motion: Upon a Motion by I" Vice -Chair Smith, and a second by Board Member
Clarkson -Harrison, the Board voted 5 IN FAVOR
to approve the use of alternate
building materials by Montgomery Tree Farms.
The Motion Carried.
Adiournmen[
Motion: Upon a motion by 2"^ Vice -Chair, Barry, and a second by Board Member
Howard, the Board voted 7 IN FAVOR, and 0 OPPOSED to adjourn the meeting
ak7:54 p.m.
he Motion Carried.
' These minut re d and filed in the offices of the Allen Board of Adjustment, Sign Control Board,
and guildi n dards Commis i 's 13'" day of September 2016.
of Community Development
qday of [.tom 2016.
i
VA LA N
Meredith Norge, Planner