HomeMy WebLinkAbout00071599CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
1101 Texas Avenue South, PO Box 9960
College Station, Texas 77842
Phone (979) 764-3570 / Fax (979) 764-3496
MEMORANDUM
August 29, 2001
TO: The Planning and Zoning Commission
FROM: Molly Hitchcock, Staff Planner
SUBJECT: Sign Ordinance Amendment Request
Ray Hansen has requested that the Commission consider a change to the sign
ordinance so that businesses in a C-N Neighborhood Business zoning district
may have freestanding signage. The Zoning Ordinance states that purpose of a
C-N district is to:
provide small commercial sites for residential convenience goods and
personal service businesses. No use shall be allowed which would adversely
affect the health, welfare, or residential character of the neighborhood. The
use shall be a low traffic generator and shall not create any noise, light, or
odors abnormal to the neighborhood. No outside storage or display of goods
or materials shall be allowed.
Because the intent of the district is to provide small-scale neighborhood
conveniences without large-scale commercial intrusions, freestanding signs are
not allowed.
The Commission approved a gas station and convenience center for the C-N
district at the corner of Southwest Parkway and Dartmouth on September 21,
2000. The amendment Mr. Hansen has proposed would allow for a 104 sq.ft.
freestanding sign at this location. According to current standards, this property
could not have a sign that large, regardless of the zoning. Should the
Commission wish to amend the sign ordinance, staff would request direction on
sign size and height requirements.
Supporting Materials
1. Letter from Ray Hansen
2. Minutes from the September 21, 2000 P&Z meeting
08/23/200I
City of Bryan
Planning and Zoning Commission
The purpose of this letter is to request an amendment to the ordinance which relates to
C-N Zoning.
Several months back we received approval to build a convenience store with Motor Fuel
on the S.W. Corner of Dartmouth and S.W. Parkway. We are progressing on that
construction and should open in November. You may recall that we agreed to build a
building of the same architecture as our newest development at University and the
Bypass. This building is approximately SO% more costly than convenience stores built
in the City by our competitors.
The problem is that now that we are preparing for the completion of the facility we are
informed that C-N Zoning does not allow for a free standing sign for a logo and
product prices (we had no idea of this until this day. The current C-N Zoning does
allow for almost unlimited signs on and attached to the building. This, in our opinion,
creates unsightly signs which are detrimental to the color scheme and the architecture,
which we believe to be outstanding. Uncontrol signs of varying configuration, colors,
script and workmanship will certainly be eye sores to the community. These are
currently allowed.
Our proposal is to amend the ordinance as follows. Signage for service station logos
and prices to be limited to 72 square feet and other tenants of the development are
limited to 16 square feet each. This sign would be a free standing monument sign and
be placed at an approved location - probably on the corner with certain setbacks. The
Signage ordinance would require non intrusive but substantial landscape. Those
requirements to be established by staff.
We believe this approach would be much more attractive than the current ordinance
which allows some "form of ugliness" depending on the owner.
As a footnote, it is obvious to most everyone that motor fuel prices being visible to the
public with their own identifying logo is critical to the success of that enterprise.
Also, it appears to us that an amendment requiring something similar to the architecture
of the neighborhood with an allowance for small signs, out front, mounted near the
ground would be a considerable improvement over the current ordinance. Further, we
recommend that coinciding with the allowance of monument signs that restrictions be
placed on those unrestricted signs currently allowed in various places on the building.
Obviously, those Signage requirements should allow trademarks and an appropriate
amount of additional space to enhance the sign but not unrestricted Signage.
Thank You,
Ray V. ansen
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