HomeMy WebLinkAboutSTAFF REPORT CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
1101 Texas Avenue South, PO Box 9960
COLLEGE STATION College Station, Texas 77842
Phone 979.764.3570 / Fax 979.764.3496
MEMORANDUM
January 6, 2004
TO: Zoning Board of Adjustments (ZBA)
FROM: Jennifer Reeves, Staff Planner
SUBJECT: Rehearing request for 1900 Texas Avenue, Texas Avenue
Crossing Shopping Center.
Item: Consideration of a rehear of a variance request for 1900 Texas Avenue,
consisting of a set back request of 48.8 feet from the back of curb line for a 35-
foot tall sign. The required setback is 70- ft.from the back of curb line for a 35 -ft.
in height sign, thus the applicant is requesting a 21.2 -ft. setback variance to
the required setback.
Applicant: Jerry Tipps, Project Manager, Sr. Associate with Heights Venture
Architects LLP, and Agent for Texas Avenue Crossing.
Item Summary: This variance case was originally heard and denied on
November 18, 2003. A letter has been addressed to the Board on behalf of the
applicant and Agent for Texas Avenue Crossing Shopping Center, however the
applicant has not provided any new information that was not discussed at the
previous meeting. The letter is included with this memorandum.
The approved minutes of the November 18, 2003 ZBA meeting are included in
the ZBA packet.
Attachments:
1. Letter with attachments from Jerry Tipps, Project Manager dated November
28, 2003
2. Approved Minutes from the November 18, 2003 Meeting
STAFF REPORT
Project Manager: Jennifer Reeves
Email: jreeves @cstx.gov
Date: 10 -20 -03 ZBA Meeting Date: 11 -18 -03
APPLICANT: Marvin Baker, Quality Sign Company
REQUEST: Sign Variance
LOCATION: 1900 Texas Avenue, Texas Avenue Crossing Shopping Center
PURPOSE: To allow a taller and larger sign than the City of College Station's
Ordinance will allow.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Status of Applicant: Agent for owner
Property Owner: Texas Avenue Crossing, Brad Sondock (managing partner)
Applicable
Ordinance Section: Section 7.4 Signs
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Zoning and Land Use
Subject Property: C -1 General Commercial
North: Texas A &M property
West: R -6 High Density Multi - Family
East: C -1 General Commercial
South: C -1 General Commercial
Frontage: Approximately 667 feet along Texas Avenue
Access: Via a driveway from Texas Avenue
Topography &
Vegetation: Relatively flat with no vegetation
Flood Plain: Not located within a flood plain
VARIANCE INFORMATION
Item Background: The applicant is requesting four variances to the proposed
freestanding sign:
(1) Height - The ordinance allows for the tallest sign to be 35 -feet in height
providing that the proper setback from the closest point of the sign to the curb or
pavement edge is met. Allowable height is determined by measuring the
distance from the closest point of the sign to the curb and dividing this distance
by two. Thirty feet from the curb, the proposed sign may be 15 feet tall. The
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applicant wants a 45 -ft. tall sign, so he is requesting a 30 -foot variance to the
height.
(2) Height - The U.D.O. states "No Freestanding Commercial Sign shall exceed
35 feet in height" thus the applicant is requesting A 10 -foot variance that
exceeds the maximum height to what the ordinance will allow.
(3) Setback - The applicant is requesting a setback of 30 -feet for a 45 -foot tall
sign. The sign would have to be set back 90 -feet for the proposed height of the
sign; thus the applicant is requesting a 60 -ft setback variance.
(4) Area - The area of a sign is determined by the amount of frontage the subject
property has on the higher classified street, which in this case is Texas Avenue.
The frontage along Texas Avenue is 667.2 feet. This would allow a maximum
area of 300 square feet (maximum area allowed by the City of College Station).
The request is for a 805 ft. sign in area; thus the applicant is requesting a 505
Square foot variance to the area requirement.
ANALYSIS
Special Conditions: The applicant states as a special condition: Fast moving
traffic needs a larger, taller, and closer sign to be effective.
Hardships: The applicant states as a hardship: Other competing businesses in
the area are using larger, grandfathered signs.
Alternatives: The applicant has offered no alternatives.
SPECIAL INFORMATION
Ordinance Intent: To establish clear and unambiguous regulations pertaining to
signs in the City of College Station and to promote an attractive community,
foster traffic safety, and enhance the effective communication and exchange of
ideas and communicate information.
Number of Property
Owner's Notified: 16
Response Received: None, as of time of staff report.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Application
Sign Description
Site Plan
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