Min - Board of Adjustment - 2002 - 05/13 - Regularn141_�IKOiLEV-11a Y 30161.147:\:X:
REGULAR MEETING
LMAY 13, 2002
ATTENDANCE:
Board Members Present:
Melanie Jones (Chair)
Griffith Moore (Vice -Chair)
Frank Brown
Joni Halpin
Board Members Absent:
Ed Spivey
City Staff Present:
Sally L. Leeper, Planner
Joey Allette, Environmental Services Coordinator
Pam Conway, Administrative Secretary
Bret McCullough, Building Official (arrived at 3:50)
CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM:
With a quorum of the Board present, the Sign Control Board was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by
Chairperson Jones at the City Council Chambers, One Allen Civic Plaza, Allen, Texas.
CONSENT AGENDA:
1. Approve minutes of April 8, 2002, Regular Meeting.
MOTION: Upon a motion by Board Member Moore and a second by Board Member Brown,
the Board voted 4 FOR and 0 OPPOSED to approve the consent agenda as
presented. The motion carried.
REGULAR AGENDA:
2. Consider Subdivision Identification Sign for Phase II and IB of Watters Crossing Addition by
Mr. Pete March, Watters Crossing Homeowners' Association.
Ms. Sally Leeper, Planner, presented the request to the Board. She stated that Phase I has an
existing entry sign and the Ordinance allows 2 per subdivision, and this request does conform.
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d MAY 13, 2002
Mr. Pete March, 1201 Sonoma Drive, Allen, President, Watters Crossing Homeowners
Association, presented photographs of the sign locations desired for placement. Ms. Leeper
noted that Mr. Peter Tian, Traffic Engineer, stated there were no site visibility issues.
MOTION: Upon a motion by Board Member Moore and a second by Board Member Halpin,
the Board voted 4 FOR and 0 OPPOSED to approve the request as presented. The
motion carried.
3. Discussion Item — Temporary Realtor/Broker Open House Signs
Ms. Leeper stated that staff has received inquiries as to the possibility of allowing temporary
realtorfbroker open house signs.
Steve Golff, Manager of Century 21, 335 Central Expressway South, stated he is in favor of
cleaning up the sign clutter in the City. He requested Open House signs be allowed, with
reasonable conditions for temporary signs, limited in number and maybe with a time limit (4
hours, for example.)
Sue Johnson, Remax, 210 Central Expressway, requested the Sign Ordinance be more lenient.
She stated the open house signs are necessary for direction — especially homes on cul-de-sacs,
with limited visibility She suggested 3 signs be allowed per open house.
Board Member Brown stated his concern is that the ordinance be fair for all involved
Board Member Moore indicated he favored the time and number limits
Board Member Halpin suggested adding phone numbers to the signs so Code Enforcement could
call if the signs were left out longer than was allowed.
Chairman Jones stated that her concern was enforcement. She stated that all realtors would need
to cooperate in this. If the sign is in a right-of-way or median, they could be thrown away. She
stated the same rules as garage sale signs could apply, also with time limits
Mr. Golff stated the realtors have an association through Collin County to communicate about
the ordinance.
Joey Allette, Sign Inspector/Environmental/Health stated that he has been attempting to
communicate the rules to this organization for over a year. Citations may have to be issued if the
ordinance is not followed.
Ms Leeper reminded the Board Members and the audience the right-of-way includes not only the
median area, but also approximately 11 feet on each side of a thoroughfare, and on residential
streets it's 9%: feet.
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MAY 13, 2002
Board Member Halpin noted that because there are limited places to put signs, that this might
further cause a large number of signs at the same location — clutter.
Bret McCullough, Building Official, stated that there could be legal ramifications if the City
differentiates between builders and realtors in this ordinance.
Board Member Brown suggested that the realtors again communicate to their organization about
the ordinance. Mr. Golff stated that he believes the organization does know and understand the
ordinance, but there are violators because the ordinance is so restrictive.
Ms. Leeper reminded the Board that a change in the ordinance will require a recommendation of
the Sign Board, and a public hearing before the Planning & Zoning Commission and City
Council, before final approval is achieved.
The Board suggested the open house signs might include Broker/Realtors/Builders/By Owner, be
allowed Saturday and Sunday from 1 — 3 p.m., or 2 — 4 p.m., include the company name and
phone number; 2 off-site directional and one on-site for residential properties for sale only.
Further discussion was held on how to word the ordinance to include all and be fair. Chairperson
Jones suggested obtaining guidance from the City Attorney.
The Board scheduled a workshop to further discuss the open house signs, Wednesday, May 29,
2002 at 7:00 p.m., City Council Conference Room.
Other Business:
None
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION: Upon a motion by Board Member Brown and a second by Board Member Moore,
the Board voted 4 FOR and 0 OPPOSED to adjourn the May 13, 2002, meeting of
the Sign Control Board at 4:40 p.m. The motion carried.
These minutes approved this loth day of June 2002.
Melanie Jones, Chairperson Sally L: Leeper