Item 9ACase No.
SV18-002
S T A F F R E P O R T
March 27, 2018
CASE NO: SV18-002
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Mattison Avenue EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: On behalf of Mattison Avenue, Global Signs Inc. is requesting approval of
variances to the Southlake Town Square Grand Avenue Master Sign Plan
(MSP) regulations to allow illuminated upper story signage; an attached building
sign to exceed maximum letter height; and a building blade sign to be located
on a façade that does not correlate with the tenant’s lease space. Mattison
Avenue is located at 301 State Street, Suites 240 and 260, Southlake, Texas.
REQUEST
DETAILS: The Mattison Avenue salon and spa is occupying approximately 8,370 square
feet located on the second floor above Whole Earth and adjacent to Fusion
Academy.
The applicant is requesting an upper story attached building sign on the west
elevation. The MSP regulations limit letter height for upper story signs to 12
inches and the applicant is requesting a maximum letter height of 14 inches.
The MSP regulations also prohibit upper story signage from being illuminated
and the proposed sign is halo lit.
In addition, a building blade sign is requested for the east elevation that
qualifies as an upper story sign and is proposed to be internally illuminated. The
building blade sign location is on a stair well façade that is not congruent with
the tenant’s lease space.
The details of the sign variances requested are as follows:
Sign Regulation Permitted by MSP Proposed
Upper Story
Maximum Letter
Height
12 inches
One upper story attached building
sign on west elevation proposed 14
inch maximum letter height
Illumination Upper story signage
shall not be illuminated
One attached building sign on the
west elevation and one building blade
sign on the east elevation. Both signs
are proposed to be illuminated.
Attached Sign
Placement
Attached signs shall be
placed on the tenant’s
lease space facade
One building blade sign on the east
elevation placed on a façade that
does not correlate with the tenant’s
lease space
Department of Planning & Development Services
Case No.
SV18-002
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of the Requested Variances
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Link to PowerPoint Presentation
Link to Demonstration
Link to Support Documents
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (817)748-8072
Lorrie Fletcher (817)748-8069
Case No. Attachment A
SV18-002 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Global Signs Inc. on behalf of Mattison Avenue
PROPERTY SITUATION: 301 State Street, Suites 240 & 260, Southlake, Texas.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 2R1, Block 3R2R, Southlake Town Square Addition
CURRENT ZONING: DT – Downtown District
HISTORY: November 1998 – Phase I Sign Regulations adopted
March 1999 – Phase II Sign Regulations adopted
November 2005 – Grand Avenue Sign Regulations adopted
April 4, 2006 – Grand Avenue MSP Amendment increased upper story
letter height maximum from 10 inches to 12 inches. The amendment
included specific approval for illuminated Merrill Lynch upper story
signage. (SP06-146)
November 5, 2013 – Del Frisco’s Grille was granted multiple sign
variances to include illuminated upper story signage. (SV13-021)
December 1, 2015 – Fusion Academy was granted upper story signage
that exceeded maximum letter height and halo illumination. (SV15-009)
SIGN BOARD: March 22, 2018; Approved (5-0) as presented and subject to the Staff
Report dated March 16, 2018 and specifically grating the variances for
letter height, illumination and sign placement.
STAFF COMMENTS: City Council approval of the request does not eliminate the requirement
for a sign application submittal prior to sign installation. Please contact
Seantay Carpenter for sign application processing and pre-install
inspection. Seantay can be reached at 817-748-8215 or
scarpenter@ci.southlake.tx.us.
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
Case No. Attachment A
SV18-002 Page 2
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 B
SV18-002 Page 1