HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report STAFF REPORT
Project Manager: Jason Schubert, Staff Planner Report Date: October 29, 2007
Email: jschubert@cstx.gov Meeting Date: November 6, 2007
Project Number: 07-00500236
APPLICANT: Michael Haggerty, Wakefield Sign Service
REQUEST: Sign Variance
LOCATION: 1063 Texas Avenue
Lots 11 & 12, Block 3, College Hills Subdivision
PURPOSE: The applicant is proposing to install a 3D chili pepper that is not in
compliance with the distance in which an attached sign can extend from a
structure.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Status of Applicant: Sign contractor for tenant restaurant.
Property Owner: John C. Culpepper III
Applicable
Ordinance Section: UDO Section 7.4, Signs
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Zoning and Land Use
• Subject
Property: C-1, General Commercial, developed as Chili's restaurant.
• North: C-1, General Commercial, developed as a small shopping center.
• West: C-1, General Commercial & R-1, Single Family Residential,
developed as City Hall.
• East: R-6, High Density Multi-family, developed as apartments and a
single family home.
• South: C-U, College and University, developed as Texas A&M University
Golf Course.
Frontage: The subject property has frontage on Texas Avenue (Major Arterial) and
Francis Drive (Minor Collector).
Access: The property currently has access from Texas Avenue and Francis
Drive.
Topography &
Vegetation: The property slopes slightly to the south and west. The property is
lightly vegetated as a developed commercial site.
Flood Plain: Not within the floodplain.
VARIANCE INFORMATION
Background: The applicant submitted a sign permit application in July 2007 for new
signage for the restaurant. The sign package was in association with
a remodel of the restaurant. All proposed signs were permitted and
installed (see attached pictures) except for the 3D chili pepper which
would be attached to a canopy facing Texas Avenue. The 3D sign
does not meet the sign ordinance which states that an attached sign
"shall not extend more than one foot from any exterior building face,
mansard, awning or canopy." The proposed sign extends
approximately 4 feet from the canopy support in which it would be
attached (see sign details). The applicant is requesting a variance
that would allow attached signs to extend an additional 3 feet
from that which it is attached.
ANALYSIS
Special Conditions: The applicant did not identify any special conditions.
Hardships: The applicant states that the "ordinance denies the customer the
ability to display its nationally recognized signage."
Alternatives: No alternatives were identified. The applicant states they want to
install their typical signage which includes the 3D pepper.
Recommendation: Staff recommends denial of the variance request. The applicant has
not identified special conditions or hardships that Staff feels satisfy
the variance criteria. Furthermore, the proposed sign is contrary to
the intent of the ordinance and denying the variance will not hinder
the restaurant from making reasonable use of the property for the
display of commercial signage.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
Ordinance Intent: The purpose of the sign ordinance is to promote an attractive
community, foster traffic safety, and enhance the effective
communication and exchange of ideas and commercial information.
Similar Requests: None identified.
Number of Property
Owners Notified: 10
Responses Received: Two responses were received by owners of residential property
behind Chili's. While they expressed negative opinions of the request,
they did not express formal opposition.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Small Area Map and Aerial Map
2. Application
3. Site Photographs
4. Sign Details (provided in packet)