Loading...
Min - 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. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT 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. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT 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