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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - Board of Adjustment - 2012 - 04/23 - RegularBOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SIGN CONTROL BOARD ' BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION Workshop and Regular Meeting CITY OF ALLEN April 23,2012 ATTENDANCE: Board Members Present: Gene Autrey, Chairman Deborah Angell Smith, 1" Vice Chair Kimberly Clarkson Joel Hemphill Thomas Wierzbicki Ken Barry, Alternate Michael Freiberger, Alternate City Staff Present: Ogden "Bo" Bass, AICP, Director of Community Development Lee Battle, AICP, Assistant Director of Community Development Tiffany McLeod, Senior Planner Patrick Blaydes, Planner Shelby Griffin, Planner Kevin Laughlin, Attorney Workshop Meeting Orientation training was held at 6:00 p an. in the Parks and Recreation Conference Room. Regular Meeting Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present: With a quorum of the Board Members present, Chairman Autrey called the meeting to order at 7.00 p.m. in the Community Room at Allen Municipal Court and Parks and Recreation Building, 301 Century Parkway Consent Aeenda I Approve minutes from the March 5, 2012 Board of Adjustment meeting. Motion: Upon a Motion by Chairman Autrey and a Second by Board Member Wierzbicki, the Board voted as follows to amend the minutes from the March 5, 2012 Board of Adjustment meeting to replace Michael Freiberger with Ken Barry on the motion on page 3: • Gene Autrey—For • Deborah Angell Smith — For • Thomas Wierzbicki—For • Joel Hemphill — For • Kimberly Clarkson — For I BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SIGN CONTROL BOARD BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION APRIL 23, 2012 PAGE Motion: Upon a Motion by 1" Vice Chair Smith and a Second by Board Member Wiembicki, the Board voted as follows to amend the minutes from the March 5, 2012 Board of Adjustment meeting to expand on Director Bass's presentation concerning Cool Toys LLC's proximity to a school: • Gene Autrey — For • Deborah Angell Smith — For • Thomas Wiembicki—For • Joel Hemphill—For • Kimberly Clarkson—For The Motion Carried. Motion: Upon a Motion by 1" Vice Chair Smith and a Second Board Member Hemphill, the Board voted as follows to approve the amended minutes from the March 5, 2012 Board of Adjustment meeting: • Gene Autrey — For • Deborah Angell Smith — For • Thomas Wiembicki — For • Joel Hemphill — For • Kimberly Clarkson — For The Motion Carried. Regular Agenda Agenda Item q2: Conduct a Public Hearing and consider a request to approve and permit the use of alternate building materials in a nonresidential zoning district which otherwise requires masonry construction of exterior walls. Allen Lund Development Code, Section 2.02.2, paragraph Le The property is located at the northwest comer of Exchange Parkway and U.S. Highway 75 and further described as Lot 3 and 4, Block A, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Allen, Texas (BOA -4/19/12-2) [Cracker Barrel] Ogden `Be" Bass, Director of Community Development, presented to the Board. The subject property is described as Lot 3 and 4, Block A, Wal-Mart Supercenter. Mr Bass explained that the applicant is requesting the use of alternate budding materials on the exterior of the building to maintain their "look." Mr. Bass described the ALDC exterior budding material requirement for nonresidential buildings. He informed the Board of the proposed building material and compared the proposed building elevations to the standard Cracker Barrel building elevation Mr Bass explained that the applicant is trying to maintain their signature look while also meeting the standards of the ALDC and the design standards of the Twin Creeks Architectural Review Board. The applicant has presented a prototype designed for the City of BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SIGN CONTROL BOARD BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION APRIL 23, 2012 PAGE 3 Allen Mr. Bass assured the Board that the Budding Official is not concerned with the proposed material El holding up over time. He recommended that the Board approve the request. Chairman Autrey opened the Public Hearing. Patricia Hill, 1524 Danube Lane, Plano, TX, applicant, spoke in favor of the request. Board member Hemphill inquired about the number of stores Cracker Barrel has built to look like the proposed elevations. Michele Armstrong, 307 Hanmann Drive, Lebanon, TX, applicant and a representative of Cracker Barrel Corporate, explained that the proposed elevations will be the first Cracker Barrel to look this way She stated that it is a result of Cracker Barrel wanting to locate in Allen With no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Autrey closed the Public Hearing. Motion: Upon a Motion by 1" Vice Chair Smith and a Second by Board Member Wienbicki, the Board voted as follows to approve the request to approve and permit the alternate exterior building materials for Cracker Barrel as illustrated on the attached building elevations dated 3.14.12, Option 2, pages 1 and 2: • Gene Autrey—For • Deborah Angell Smith — For • Thomas Wierzbicki — For • Joel Hemphill — For • Kimberly Clarkson — For The Motion Carried. Agenda Item #3: Conduct a Public Hearing and consider a request for a variance to increase the allowable wall signage area on the east fapade of the building, Allen Land Development Code, Section 7.0911.2. The property is located at the northwest comer of Stacy Road and Chelsea Boulevard; also known as 840 W Stacy Road, Allen, Texas. (SV - 3/22/12 -1) [Racetrac] Tiffany McLeod, Senior Planner, presented to the Board. The property is located at the northwest corner of Stacy Road and Chelsea Boulevard; also known as 840 W Stacy Road. The zoning for the property is Planned Development No. 92 Shopping Center SC. The request is from Racetrac Petroleum, Inc. Ms McLeod explained the applicants' request. She located the two (2) proposed marketing cases on the building elevation exhibits. These marketing cases are categorized as wall signage per the ALDC This request would increase the maximum allowable wall signage (on the eastern building elevation) by 69 square feet She explained how the allowed wall signage is calculated, as stated in the 411en Land Development Code, Article VII, Section 7.09.11.2. L BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SIGN CONTROL BOARD BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION APRIL 23, 2012 PAGE Ms. McLeod explained that the increase of wall signage is appropriate for the site location on Chelsea Boulevard and Stacy Road because of the future widening of Chelsea Boulevard to have six (6) lanes. She also stated that the increase in allowable signage will have no negative effects on surrounding properties and that it will provide aesthetic consistency between the southern and eastern elevation. Ms. McLeod recommended approval of the request. Board Member Wiembicki inquired about the discrepancy between the signage increase listed on the application and Ms. McLeod's presentation. Ms. McLeod state that the applicant accounted for the Racetmc logo in the application and that the logo qualifies as window signage, not wall signage. Chairman Autrey opened the Public Hearing. Travis Henegar, 3225 Cumberland Blvd, Atlanta, GA, applicant, presented to the Board With no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Autrey closed the Public Hearing. Motion: Upon a Motion by Board Member Hemphill and a Second 1'i Vice Chair Smith, the Board voted as follows to approve the variance to increase the allowable wall signage area to 120 square feet on the east fafade of the building for Racetrac Petroleum, Inc.: • Gene Autrey—For • Deborah Angell Smith — For • Thomas Wierzbicki — For Joel Hemphill — For • Kimberly Clarkson — For The Motion Carried. Agenda Item #4: Presentation of proposed sign ordinance amendments to the Allen Land Development Code, Article VII, Section 7.09, Sign Regulations, for window signage. Lee Battle, Assistant Director of Community Development, presented to the Head. He explained that the Allen Land Development Code (ALDC') is periodically amended to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the code, address changing development trends and new technologies, and make changes necessary for compliance with state and federal laws He presented the proposed amendments affecting signage. He explained the impact of window signage on the integrity of the city He also touched on other impacts of window signage, such as safety Board Member Hemphill confirmed that window signage is considered to be anything attached or within two feet of the transparent surface. Mr. Battle agreed. Board Member Hemphill also confirmed that window signage does not include window displays or manikins. Mr Battle agreed and explained the current ALDC provides a definition for what is considered signage. F BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SIGN CONTROL BOARD BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION APRIL 23, 2012 PAGE Mr. Battle explained that the intent is not to prohibit window signage but to put some level of regulation to provide some consistency Alternate Board Member Barry asked if people were complaining about window signage or are there concerns? Mr. Battle explained that as the City of Allen begins to age, there is a maintenance component. Board Member Clarkson inquired about the allowable window signage percentage. Mr. Battle explained that the twenty percent of surface area is representative of most communities. Mr Battle explained that implementation is the hardest part. He described two ways to enforce this type of regulation One way is to consider all current signage as existing, nonconforming signage and only regulate new business. The other approach is to establish a grace period to allow everyone to come into code Alternate Board Member Freiberger asked if a shopping center full of window signage is a deterrent to potential tenants? Mr. Battle stated that the regulation would not eliminate signage,just regulate the size. Board Member Hemphill asked who would enforce the regulation Mr Battle stated that the Code Enforcement Officer's would enforce the regulations. Board Member Wierzbicki inquired about the process of incorporating this regulation and expectation for feedback are. Mr. Battle explained that a presentation will be given at the City Council Workshop Meeting, April 24'. and then it would go through a Public Hearing at the Planning and Zoning Commission and City 1 Council Meeting Director Bass explained that it is the intent of the Planning Staff to situate the City so that it will be able to maintain a high quality product Businesses may have a problem with this, it is a tricky subject V Vice Chair Smith stated that the older shopping centers on the west side will probably push back. Alternate Board Member Barry stated that some people buy a space because of the frontage. Mr Battle reminded the Board that the city regulates size, but not content or color. V Vice Chair Smith stated that she is comfortable with the safety issue Mr. Battle stated that this is a tough issue and that we know what we get if we don't do anything so should we start now. Alternate Board Member stated he would like to see what is actually out there right now. Board Member Clarkson stated she would be more comfortable to go toward thirty percent Alternate Board Member Freiberger recommended getting the stakeholders involved. I' Vice Chair Smith stated that there is a lot of empty space in the shopping center's on Bethany. She would like to see more involvement with the property managers. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT SIGN CONTROL BOARD BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION PAGE 6 1 APRIL 23, 2012 Adiournment Motion: Upon a motion by Board Member Hemphill and a second by Board Member Wierzbicki the Board voted 5 IN FAVOR, and 0 OPPOSED to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Es pr ared and filed in the offices of the Allen Board of Adjustment, Sign Control Board, d tandards Commission this day of .'4�ao 2012. Bass, AICP, Director of Shelby Gr i n tanner Development These Anytcs ap roved this ld � day of 7 2012 G e utre , Char mat helby G ' m, i r ,