Item 9ACase No.
SV18-0004
S T A F F R E P O R T
October 30, 2018
CASE NO: SV18-0004
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Axis Brain & Back Institute EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: Priority Signs and Graphics, on behalf of Axis Brain & Back Institute, is
requesting approval of a variance to Sign Ordinance No. 704, as amended, to
allow two illuminated upper story attached building signs to be located on walls
that are not congruent with the tenant’s lease space. Axis Brain and Back
Institute is located at 1110 E. State Highway 114, Suite 100, Southlake, Texas.
REQUEST
DETAILS: Axis Brain & Back Institute is located approximately 400 feet east of the
northeast corner of E. State Highway 114 and N. Carroll Avenue on the first
floor of the building.
With the adoption of Sign Ordinance No. 704-H in October 2015, upper story
signs were prohibited unless approved by City Council as part of a Master Sign
Plan or variance. There are two proposed attached building signs which will
require a sign variance; one proposed illuminated attached sign fronting E.
SH114 on the south façade of the building and a proposed illuminated attached
building sign on the west façade of the building along an internal driveway
facing N. Carroll Avenue. Both signs qualify as upper story signs. In addition,
the proposed locations of both the upper story signs are on walls not congruent
to the tenant’s lease space located on the entire first floor. Both upper story
signs are proposed as illuminated signs. Except for the logo on the south
façade, the sign letters will be white in the day time and night time with internal
lighting.
At the Sign Board meeting, the applicant had requested variances for each
sign. The south sign facing SH114 required a variance to allow a 42 square foot
sign with a greater area than allowed for the sign at 39.9 square feet. The west
sign facing N. Carroll Avenue exceeded the allowable width of 15.6 feet with a
proposed width of 18 feet. The applicant has revised the signs to be compliant
with the Sign Ordinance for each sign.
Department of Planning & Development Services
Case No.
SV18-0004
The details of the sign variances requested are as follows:
South Elevation along SH 114
Sign
Regulation Permitted by Sign Ord. Proposed at Sign Board
10-18-18
Proposed at City
Council 11-6-18
Upper Story
Sign
Prohibited unless permitted by City
Council approval through a MSP or
variance
upper story, south elevation upper story, south
elevation
Location of
attached sign
Affixed to wall congruent to tenant’s
lease space, if located below ceiling
of the 1st story and less than 20-feet
above grade of closest roadway
upper story, south elevation upper story, south
elevation
Sign Area
.70 x lease space width or linear ft.
of building facade Allowable sign
area is 39.1 square feet
upper story, south
elevation, 42 sq. ft.
meets ordinance at
39 sq. ft.
West Elevation facing N. Carroll Avenue
Sign
Regulation Permitted by Sign Ord. Proposed at Sign Board
10-18-18
Proposed at City
Council 11-6-18
Upper Story
Sign
Prohibited unless permitted by City
Council approval through a MSP or
variance
upper story, west elevation upper story, south
elevation
Location of
attached sign
Affixed to wall congruent to tenant’s
lease space, if located below ceiling
of the 1st story and less than 20-feet
above grade of closest roadway
upper story, west elevation
(staircase tower)
upper story, south
elevation
Sign Width Middle 75% of façade plane
Allowable sign width is 15.6 feet
upper story, west elevation,
18 ft.
meets ordinance at
15.5 ft.
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Variances
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Link to PowerPoint Presentation
Link to Demonstration
Link to Plans
STAFF CONTACT: Ken Baker (817)748-8067
Patty Moos (817)748-8269
Case No. Attachment A
ZA18-0004 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Priority Signs and Graphics on behalf of Axis Brain & Back Institute
PROPERTY SITUATION: 1110 East S.H. 114, Suite 100, Southlake, Texas.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 18R, Oaks Addition
CURRENT ZONING: “S-P-1” Detailed Site Plan District
HISTORY: March 7, 1964; The property was platted as Lots 18—20 of The Oaks
Addition.
March 6, 2007; City Council approved a zoning change and site plan
with S-P-1” Detailed Site Plan District with “C-2” Local Retail
Commercial District uses for Lots 18, 19, & 20 of the Oaks Addition.
March 6, 2007; City Council approved a plat revision for Lot 18R, Oaks
Addition.
April 1, 2008, a plat revision for Lot 18R, Oaks Addition was filed with
the county.
SIGN BOARD: October 18, 2018; Approved (4-1) subject to the Staff Report dated
October 12, 2018; there will be no increase in the square footage (south
sign) and the width (west sign) and allow only two (2) signs for the
building.
Commissioner Rothmeier dissented for concerns with the inference that
this building is a single tenant facility and preferred to have signs
located on the first floor.
STAFF COMMENTS: The application exhibits are hyper-linked to this report. City Council
approval of the request does not eliminate the requirement for an
appropriate 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.
DESIGN GUIDELINES:
8.4.9 Multistory Buildings
a. For multistory corporate offices and hotels, signs should be limited
to monument signs and possibly a single façade sign of
appropriate scale and size that identifies the name of the major
tenant or building.
b. For multistory commercial buildings, upper story signs should be
limited to tenants that have a minimum of 25 feet of horizontal
building frontage.
Case No. Attachment A
ZA18-0004 Page 2
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.
\\SLKSV1057\THLocal\Community Development\MEMO\Signs\2018\0004 - SV - Axis Brain and Back Institute
Case No. Attachment B
ZA18-0004 Page 1