Item 9B CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
Department of Planning & Development Services
STAFF REPORT
August 29, 2017
CASE NO: SV17-001
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Starbucks
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: On behalf of Starbucks, Rogue Architects is requesting variances to Sign
Ordinance No. 704-1 and the Master Sign Plan for Starbucks located at 2155 W.
Southlake Boulevard, Southlake, Texas.
REQUEST
DETAILS: Starbucks is located in the Southlake Marketplace retail development on the
southeast corner of W. Southlake Boulevard and Davis Boulevard.
During the staff review period for the site plan regarding this Starbucks location, an
area was shown on the south elevation of the building that was identified by the
applicant as a possible future area for an attached mural. Following the second
site plan review cycle and prior to the Planning & Zoning Commission public
hearing the applicant indicated the artwork was not going to be included in the
application at this time. In March of 2016, the site plan for Starbucks at this
location was approved.
In October of 2016, the master sign plan (MSP16-004) for Starbucks at this
location was approved. The artwork component was not included in the proposed
sign package. Following the completion of construction for the building, the artwork
was installed under an incorrect assumption that it had been approved during site
plan. City staff informed the store manager that the artwork would need to be
removed until approved by City Council.
On February 21, 2017, during the City Council work session, discussion of the
proposed sign variance to allow the mural as well as the installation of an
illuminated drive-thru order point canopy was held. Following the discussion, the
applicant requested to table the item to the March 7, 2017 City Council meeting to
allow time to address City Council's concerns. Prior to the March 7, 2017 meeting,
the applicant requested to table the item to an undetermined future date in order to
work with Starbucks Corporate in resolving the drive-thru order point canopy
issues.
Under MSP16-004, two (2) attached building signs, two (2) directional monument
signs, a drive-thru order point canopy (non-illuminated), a menu board sign and a
business monument sign were approved. The applicant is requesting approval of
variances to Sign Ordinance No. 704-1 and MSP16-004 to allow the mural or
artwork on the south fagade of the building that exceeds the maximum number of
Case No.
SV17-001
attached building signs and the maximum sign area permitted at this location.
Although murals are not explicitly defined as an allowed sign type in either
governing document, the proposal is being evaluated as an attached business
sign.
The specific details of the request for the mural are as follows:
Sign Sign Ord. No. 704-1 MSP16-004 Proposed
Regulation
One (1) attached sign One (1) attached sign
Number of per building fagade on north fagade and One (1) additional
Signs facing street or one (1) attached sign attached sign on
driveway; Max. of two on east fagade. the south fagade.
(2) attached signs
Fagade width x .70 is Approximately 99
Sign Area approximately 47.6 N/A
ssquare feet
quare feet
The request also includes proposed landscape screening and alterations to the
existing drive-thru order point canopy. The drive-thru order point canopy is
designed to allow the drive-thru customer to see the barista and order on the
screen. The drive-thru interactive order point canopy was approved as part of the
Master Sign Plan (MSP16-004) with the stipulation that the canopy be non-
illuminated; have no commercial messages on the canopy; and, the display will be
dark with no illumination when a customer is not ordering. However, after the
installation of the drive-thru order point canopy, the applicant indicated that
technology did not permit the screen to go dark without any illumination when a
customer is not ordering.
The proposal is to permit the screen to display static product images between
customers similar to those illustrated on the exhibit provided. Also, the applicant is
proposing to plant nine (9) Juniper trees in the parking lot island just to the west of
the drive-thru order point canopy to shield the visibility of the screen for eastbound
traffic on FM 1709.
ACTION NEEDED: Consider approval of requested sign variances
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Link to Presentation
Link to Plan Set
Link to Demonstration
Link to Screen Display Details
Link to Landscape Plan and Renderings
Link to MSP16-004
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (748-8072)
Lorrie Fletcher (748-8069)
Case No.
SV17-001
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Rogue Architects on behalf of Starbucks
OWNER: Dunhill Partners
PROPERTY SITUATION: 2155 W. Southlake Blvd.
HISTORY: Similar Sign Type Approved Variances
In September 2001, a permit was issued to Larry North Fitness for
a 128 square foot painted sign.
March 20, 2012; City Council approved a variance for a 130
square foot painted sign for All American Fitness. (SV12-004)
November 4, 2014; City Council approved a variance for a 50
square foot painted sign for Columbia Sportswear. (SV14-015)
April 21, 2015; City Council approved a variance for two (2)
murals (east elevation - 188 square feet and west elevation - 372
square feet) for BJ's Brewhouse. (SV15-002)
Variances approved for Southlake Marketplace:
October 4, 1994; Blockbuster Video was granted variances for
letter height of 30 inches and sign area of 61.88 square feet for
both the north and west facades.
October 5, 2004; Highland Nails & Spa was granted an increase in
allowable area from 15 square feet to 24 square feet.
March 21, 2006; Ella Bella was granted an increase in allowable
area from 12 square feet to 22 square feet.
June 20, 2006; Taco House was granted an increase in allowable
area from 13.37 square feet to 24.6 square feet.
August 1, 2006; Wing Stop was granted an increase in allowable
area from 14.25 square feet to 25.67 square feet.
January 25, 2011; Mooyah was granted an increase in letter size
from 14 inches to 30 inches as well as an increase in area from
29.6 square feet to 43.8 square feet on the north elevation (facing
W. Southlake Blvd.). Mooyah was also granted an increase in
letter size from 18.5 inches to 20 inches on the west elevation
(facing Davis Blvd.).
May 17, 2011; Dunkin Donuts variance request was granted
noting the following: applicant's agreement to bring the monument
Case No. Attachment A
SV17-001 Page 1
sign into conformance with current city regulations; reduce the
logo height to be in equal proportion to the Dunkin Donuts lettering
on the front, east and west side of the building; the lettering to be
two 15" stacked with about two inches, similar to what was shown
in the application; the cup would be reduced to match the lettering;
the individual letters would include backlit channel lighting and
remove the wording "coffee and more"; two drive-through signs
totaling 4.63 square feet each in the locations that have been
identified on the plan; elimination of window signs and awing
signs; and noting that sign variances are conditional upon the
monument sign being brought up to standard.
August 7, 2012; a sign variance application was approved for
Starbucks at 125 Davis Blvd. (Boston Market) without the
monument sign component due to Davis Blvd. construction and
right of way challenges. On October 2, 2012, Starbucks complied
with the monument sign stipulations, however, they ultimately did
not move into that location.
October 18, 2016; a Master Sign Plan was approved for Starbucks
located at 2155 W. Southlake Blvd. (MSP16-004)
STRATEGIC LINK: CBO3 — Engage in thoughtful planning to ensure continued high
quality development that is integrated well into the current built
environment.
C3 — Provide attractive & unique spaces for enjoyment of personal
interests.
C4 —Attract & keep top-tier businesses to drive a dynamic &
sustainable economic environment.
SIGN BOARD: February 9, 2017; Approved (4-2)
CITY COUNCIL: February 21, 2017; Tabled (7-0) to March 7, 2017.
STAFF COMMENTS: The application exhibits are hyper-linked to this report. City
Council approval of the request does not eliminate the
requirement for appropriate sign application submittal(s) prior to
sign installation. Please contact Seantay Carpenter at 817-748-
8215 or scarpenter(a)ci.south lake.tx.us for sign application
processing and pre-install inspection.
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
Case No. Attachment A
SV17-001 Page 2
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
SV17-001 Page 3
Vicinity Map
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Case No. Attachment B
SV17-001 Page 1