Item 9ACase No.
SV16-016
S T A F F R E P O R T
October 25, 2016
CASE NO: SV16-016
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Starpower EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: Starpower is requesting approval of a variance to Sign Ordinance No. 704-H to
allow two (2) attached building signs that exceed maximum area, letter/logo
height and sign width for a two-tenant building. The building is located at 1600
E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 160, Southlake, Texas.
REQUEST
DETAILS: The stand-alone building located in Village Center east of Spin Pizza and Pei
Wei in Southlake Town Square and west of Chase Bank and Village Center
Drive, is split into two lease spaces, one currently leased by Thomasville
furniture and the other for Starpower – Ed Kellum & Son, previously occupied
by Anderson’s Furniture. The proposed signage for Starpower includes two (2)
attached building signs; one on the south elevation (Starpower) and the other
on the east elevation (Ed Kellum & Son). Ed Kellum & Son represents the
appliance portion of the new “Luxury Living” format at Starpower. Both signs
are proposed in the same locations as the previous tenant, Anderson’s
Furniture.
The south elevation allows for a maximum sign area of approximately 65.1
square feet, letter height of 19 inches, logo height of 23.8 inches and a sign
width of approximately 24 feet. The proposed sign for the south elevation
distributed to the Sign Board in their October 20, 2016 meeting packet
measured at approximately 122 square feet in area, 33 inches in letter height,
93.3 inches in logo height and a sign width of approximately 25.9 feet.
The east elevation allows for a maximum sign area of approximately 113.8
square feet, letter height of 14 inches, logo height of 17.5 inches and a sign
width of approximately 21 feet. The proposed sign for the east elevation
remains as presented to the Sign Board measuring at approximately 78.3
square feet, 18 inches maximum letter height, no logo proposed and a sign
width of approximately 27.7 feet.
Although the application was submitted prior to the adoption of Sign Ordinance
No. 704-I and is subject to Sign Ordinance No. 704-H, except as noted below,
the signs conform to the newly adopted Sign Ordinance No. 704-I.
Department of Planning & Development Services
Case No.
SV16-016
On October 20, 2016, the applicant had provided an exhibit showing a reduced
size of the proposed sign for the south elevation and presented it to the Sign
Board during the meeting. The Sign Board approved the proposed sign
variance as presented and according to the revised south elevation distributed
during the meeting; noting the applicant will look further into options to reduce
the sign (3-1 Springer). The applicant has submitted an updated detail sheet for
the south elevation to include an overlay image with the existing Thomasville
sign. The submitted updates do not reflect a further reduced letter or logo
height.
The specific variances are requested as follows with the revisions shown in red:
Sign Regulation Permitted First Proposal Revised Proposal
Maximum Sign
Area
South – 65.1 sf
East – 113.8 sf
South – 122 sf
East – 78.3 sf
South – 96 sf
East – 78.3 sf
Maximum Letter
Height
South – 19 inches
East – 14 inches
South – 33 inches
East – 18 inches
South – 28.9 inches
East – 18 inches
Maximum Logo
Height
South – 23.8 inches
East – 17.5 inches
South – 93.3 inches
East – N/A
South – 84 inches
East – N/A
Maximum Sign
Width using middle
75% of façade
South – 24 feet
East – 21 feet
South – 25.9 feet
East – 27.7 feet
South – 23.4 feet
East – 27.7 feet
ACTION NEEDED: Consider approval of sign variance request
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Link to Presentation
Link to Sign Package
Link to Demonstration
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (817)748-8072
Lorrie Fletcher (817)748-8069
Case No. Attachment A
SV16-016 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
OWNER: Starpower
PROPERTY SITUATION: 1600 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 160
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 1, Block 2, Village Center Addition
CURRENT ZONING: “C-3” General Commercial District
HISTORY: October 21, 2003; City Council granted approval allowing for 30” letters
and a 68” logo on the south side, waiving the 75% coverage on the
south side, and allowing 24” letters and a 38 ½” logo on the east side for
Drexel Heritage. (SP03-046)
February 1, 2005; City Council granted approval allowing for 27” letters
for Anderson’s Furniture when they were located at 2140 E. Southlake
Blvd. (SP05-014)
June 7, 2005; City Council granted approval allowing Anderson’s
Furniture a third sign at the 2140 E. Southlake Blvd. location. (SP05-
113)
January 16, 2007; City Council granted approval allowing Starpower
four signs that exceeded Shops of Southlake Master Sign Plan criteria.
(SP07-002)
September 16, 2008; City Council granted approval allowing Anderson’s
Furniture 28” letters and 42” logo fronting Southlake Blvd., and 19”
letters on the east elevation at the 1600 E. Southlake Blvd. location
when they occupied the entire building. (SP08-208)
January 15, 2013; City Council granted approval of a Site Plan that
separated the Anderson’s Furniture store into two lease spaces
accommodating Thomasville on the west side of the building and
creating two new separate entrances. (ZA12-111)
March 19, 2013; City Council granted approval allowing Thomasville 42”
letter height and Anderson’s Furniture 42” maximum height for entire
sign whether it is just the A & S or they opt for double stacked text. Any
resulting sign approved to exceed middle 75% or total sign width. The
previous signage on the east elevation remains as previously approved.
(SV13-003)
SIGN BOARD: October 20, 2016; Approved (3-1) as presented and subject to the Staff
Report dated October 14, 2016, with the adjustments to the south
elevation at 90% presented this evening; noting the applicant will look at
options to further reduce the sign.
STAFF COMMENTS: The application exhibits are attached and/or hyper-linked to this report.
City Council approval of the proposed signage does not eliminate the
requirement for appropriate sign application submittals prior to
Case No. Attachment A
SV16-016 Page 2
installation of signs. Please contact Seantay Carpenter at 817-748-8215
or scarpenter@ci.southlake.tx.us for sign application processing and
pre-install inspections.
Variance Criteria:
9.6.2 VARIANCES
a. Variance Authorized. The City Council may authorize variances to
any restriction set forth in this ordinance, including but not limited
to the number, type, area, height, or setback of signs, or any other
aspect involved in the sign permitting process.
b. Approval Standards. In granting any variance, City Council shall
consider the following criteria:
(i) Special conditions exist which are peculiar to the land,
structure or building involved and are not applicable to other
lands, buildings or structures in the same zone. The City may
attach such conditions to granting all or a portion of any
variance necessary to achieve the purpose of this ordinance,
and;
(ii) The strict interpretation of the provisions of the ordinance
would deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by
other properties in the same zone under the terms of the
ordinance, and;
(iii) The special conditions and circumstances do not result from
the actions of the applicant and such conditions and
circumstances do not merely constitute pecuniary hardship
or inconveniences, and;
(iv) Granting the variance will meet the objectives of the
ordinance and not be injurious to the adjoining property
owners or otherwise detrimental to the public welfare, and;
(v) The request will be the minimum variance necessary to
alleviate the special hardship or practical difficulties faced by
the applicant in meeting the requirements of this ordinance;
and;
(vi) Granting of the variance will be in harmony with the spirit and
purpose of this sign ordinance.
(vii) Granting of a variance shall be specific to the subject sign(s).
Any modification of the signage approved by the variance or
the installation of new or replacement signage that does not
meet the specific requirements of the City Council variance
approval is prohibited and will be deemed non-compliant.
Application Process. Any request for a variance shall be made to the
Administrative Official and be accompanied by a completed application
and a non-refundable filing fee in the amount specified in the current fee
schedule adopted by City Council. The sign variance will be considered
by the City Council following a recommendation by the Sign Board. The
Sign Board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for
their consideration.
Case No. Attachment A
SV16-016 Page 3
Regulation Comparison Charts:
South Elevation:
Sign Regulation 704-I 704-H Thomasville Anderson’s Proposed South
Max Sign Area 65.1 sf 65.1 65.6 sf 58 sf 96 sf
Max Letter Height 19 inches 19 inches 42 inches 28 inches (42 inches total
for double stacked text) 28.9 inches
Max Logo Height 23.8 inches 23.8 inches N/A N/A 84 inches
Max Sign Width 24 feet 24 feet 18.7 feet 18 feet 23.4 feet
Illumination Halo or meet color
criteria Halo or internal Halo Halo Halo
Letter Color Neutrals (if not
halo lit) Any Black Black Black
south elevation façade measures 110’ to edge of pavement (Southlake Blvd)
sign location façade measures 32’
lease space width measures 93’
East Elevation:
Sign Regulation 704-I 704-H Thomasville Anderson’s Proposed East
Max Sign Area 113.8 sf 113.8 sf N/A 38.66 sf 78.3 sf
Max Letter Height 14 inches 14 inches N/A 19 inches 18 inches
Max Logo Height 17.5 inches 17.5 inches N/A N/A N/A
Max Sign Width 21 feet 21 feet N/A 24.2 feet 27.7 feet
Illumination Halo or meet color
criteria Halo or internal N/A Halo Halo / tag line non-
illuminated
Letter Color Neutrals (if not
halo lit) Any N/A Black Black
east elevation façade measures less than 100’ to edge of pavement (internal driveway)
sign location façade measures 28’
lease space width measures 162.5’
Case No. Attachment B
SV16-016 Page 1