SB Item 5 - SV17-013 Great ExpressionsCase No.
SV17-009
S T A F F R E P O R T
August 29, 2017
CASE NO: SV17-013
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Great Expressions Dental Centers EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: On behalf of Great Expressions Dental Centers, Professional Permits is
requesting approval of a variance to Sign Ordinance No. 704, as amended, and
the Conditional Sign Permit for Gateway Plaza Phase II to allow a larger than
allowed height for the logo. Great Expressions Dental is located at 2600 E.
Southlake Blvd., Suite 170, Southlake, Texas.
REQUEST
DETAILS: Great Expressions Dental Centers is located in the main retail building fronting
on E. Southlake Blvd. in Wyndham Plaza. The applicant is requesting a
variance to allow a larger than permitted logo height. The proposed sign meets
all other sign ordinance criteria regarding size, letter type and overall area.
The sign will have 15 inch and 10 1/16th inch illuminated white channel letters
with white trim caps and returns. The proposed logo will be approximately 32
inches in height and 48 inches in width. The area of the logo is 10.7 sf. The
logo will be internally lit with blue and white faced graphics with white trim caps
and returns. The channel letters will be attached to an electric raceway that will
be painted to match the building brick.
Under the Conditional Sign Permit for Gateway Plaza Phase II, the following is
a comparison of the conditional sign permit and the proposed sign:
Sign Regulation Conditional Sign Permit
for Gateway Plaza Phase II Proposed
Letter Height 30 inches 15 inch and 10 1/16th
inch
Sign Area 45 sf 42.8 sf
Logo Height 30 inches 32 inches
Variance Request
Sign Width 75% of lease space: 14.06 ft. 11.43
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of a Sign Variance
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
Department of Planning & Development Services
Case No.
SV17-009
(B) Vicinity Map
Link to PowerPoint Presentation
Link to Demonstration
Link to Support Documents
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (817)748-8072
Patty Moos (817)748-8269
Case No. Attachment B
ZA17-009 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Professional Permits
PROPERTY SITUATION: 2600 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 170, Southlake, Texas.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 1R4, Block 1, Gateway Plaza Addition Phase II
CURRENT ZONING: “S-P-2” Generalized site Plan District
HISTORY: February 2, 1999; Master Sign Plan approved for Gateway Plaza Ph I.
June 6, 2000; Master Sign Plan approved for Gateway Plaza Ph II.
September 16, 2003; Sign Variance for Big Bowl was denied. (SP03-
012)
December 2, 2003; Sign Variance for Camille’s Sidewalk Café was
approved. (SP03-082)
June 15, 2004; Sign Variance for Steak N’ Shake was denied. (SP04-
109)
October 19, 2004; an amendment to the Master Sign Plan for Gateway
Plaza Ph II was approved to amend the number and placement of
monument signs. (SP04-050)
December 7, 2004; Sign Variance for Shogun Restaurant was
approved. (SP04-268)
April 19, 2005; Sign Variance for Southlake Tavern was approved.
(SP05-090) *number of signs
August 16, 2005; Sign Variance for Red, Hot & Blue was approved.
(SP05-197)
September 6, 2005; Sign Variance for 24-Hour Fitness was approved.
(SP05-220)
March 6, 2007; Sign Variance for Weir’s Furniture was approved.
(SP07-039) *number of signs
September 18, 2007; Sign Variance for Michael Anthony’s was
approved. (SP07-275) *number of signs
November 20, 2007; Sign Variance for Modia was approved. (SP07-
396)
February 21, 2012; Sign Variance for Mellow Mushroom was approved.
(SV12-002)
June 19, 2012; Sign Variance for Modia was approved. (SV12-007)
Case No. Attachment B
ZA17-009 Page 2
February 5, 2013; Sign Variance for Men’s Wearhouse was approved.
(SV12-030
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
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
Case No. Attachment B
ZA17-009 Page 3
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.
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Case No. Attachment B
ZA17-009 Page 4