Item 9BCase No.
SV19-0002
S T A F F R E P O R T
March 12, 2019
CASE NO: SV19-0002
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Johnny Was
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: Retail Amp Design is requesting approval of a variance to the Southlake Town
Square Grand Avenue District Sign Regulations and Sign Ordinance No. 704, as
amended, to allow a painted sign for Johnny Was located at 330 Grand Avenue,
Southlake, Texas.
DETAILS: Johnny Was is located in the Southlake Town Square Grand Avenue District,
situated in between the Fossil and J. Crew stores.
The applicant is requesting a variance to the Southlake Town Square Grand Avenue
District Sign Regulations and the Sign Ordinance 704, as amended, to allow a
painted sign on the store front entrance of their building lease space. Southlake
Town Square land management (RPAI) has submitted support for the proposed
sign.
Specifically, under Sign Ordinance 704, as amended, Section 5.2.6, signs directly
painted on buildings are prohibited with the exception of signs that are less than five
square feet used for building identification.
Specifically, under the Southlake Town Square Grand Avenue District sign
regulations, Section 8.0 Non-Conforming Signs, certain signs, while not technically
meeting the requirements set forth, will nonetheless be considered for approval on
a case-by-case basis. Staff has determined that the proposed painted sign would
require City Council approval for a variance.
All other proposed signage, i.e., fascia signs, pedestrian blade sign and window
signage are consistent with governing sign regulations.
Below is a summary of the requested variance:
Proposed Sign Sign Ordinance 704-I Southlake Town Square Grand
Avenue District Regulations
Sign directly painted on store
front of building located at 330
Grand Avenue (greater than 5
square feet; not intended for the
purpose of identifying physical
building)
Prohibited sign Non-Conforming Sign, to be
considered on a case-by-case basis
Case No.
SV19-0002
Total Sign Area for all signs
proposed is approximately
113 s.f.
(total signage area without
painted sign is approximately
18.4 s.f.)
Sign area is determined
by lease space width up
to a maximum of 100
s.f. for signs along Main
Streets (ped. Oriented)
The total area for all signs per
tenant/lease space shall not
exceed 30 s.f.
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Variance
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Presentation
Demonstration
Supporting Documents
Sign Board Approved Rendering
Updated Rendering for City Council Consideration
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (748-8072)
Lorrie Fletcher (748-8069)
Case No. Attachment A
SV19-0002 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Retail Amp Design / Johnny Was
OWNER: RPAI Southwest Management LLC
PROPERTY SITUATION: 330 Grand Avenue
HISTORY: West Side District painted directional signs (3).
September, 2001; permit issued for Larry North Fitness painted sign.
December 11, 2009; permit issued for Jack’s Porch painted signs (2).
March 20, 2012; City Council approved a variance request for a painted sign
for All American Family Fitness. (SV12-004)
November 4, 2014; City Council approved a variance request for a painted
sign for Columbia Sportswear. (SV14-015)
Case No. Attachment A
SV19-0002 Page 2
December 5, 2017; City Council approved a variance request for a painted
sign for Dance With Me. (SV17-014)
Grand Avenue District Sign Variances include:
April 4, 2006; City Council approved a sign variance for Merrill Lynch and an
overall amendment to the Grand Avenue Conditional Sign Permit to allow
upper story signs a maximum letter height of 12 inches. Merrill Lynch was
also granted approval for a 25 inch logo. (SP06-146)
February 15, 2011; City Council approved a sign variance for Sephora to
allow the addition of a metal panel flame logo on their storefront that
exceeded allowable size and number of signs. (SV11-003)
SIGN BOARD: March 7, 2019; Approved (4-0) subject to the Staff Report dated March 7,
2019 and the rendering presented by the applicant this evening.
STAFF COMMENTS: City Council approval of the proposed sign does not eliminate the
requirement for appropriate sign application submittal prior to the installation
of the sign. Please contact Seantay Carpenter at 817-748-8215 or
scarpenter@ci.southlake.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 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
Case No. Attachment A
SV19-0002 Page 3
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.
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Case No. Attachment B
SV19-0002 Page 1