Item 8CCase No.
MSP19-0003
S T A F F R E P O R T
April 14, 2020
CASE NO: MSP19-0003
PROJECT: Amendment to the Master Sign Plan for Methodist Southlake Hospital
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: On behalf of Methodist Southlake Hospital, ASI Signage Innovations is requesting
approval of an amendment to their Master Sign Plan (MSP) to allow additional
signage as it pertains to the Emergency Room. Methodist Southlake Hospital is
located at 401-451 E. SH 114, Southlake, Texas.
DETAILS: Methodist Southlake Hospital is generally situated between E. Highland Street and
the eastbound SH 114 Frontage Road.
On September 6, 2016, City Council approved a MSP (MSP16-006) for rebranding
the signage from Forest Park Medical Center to Methodist Southlake Hospital. The
MSP included four (4) attached signs for the hospital and parking garage, and five
(5) directional signs. The approval allowed the MSP as proposed and accepting the
applicant’s agreement to limit the directional signs to three (3) and reduce their size
to 10 ½ square feet.
In April 2019, the applicant went before the Sign Board requesting to amend the
existing MSP to allow for the addition of four (4) single sided directional signs, one
(1) two-sided directional sign, one (1) V-shaped directional sign, one (1) new
attached Main Entrance sign, one (1) new monument sign, and two (2) new attached
Emergency Room signs. The Sign Board approved all proposed signs with
exception to the secondary monument, identified as Location 18.
Following the April 2019 Sign Board meeting and just prior to going before City
Council for final consideration, the applicant tabled this item in an effort to meet with
their board members before moving forward. They completed a very successful
Joint Commission Survey in October 2019 and plan to begin serving the community
at large with Medicare participation in April 2020; which was driving the required
additional emergency room signage.
The applicant is now ready for final approval consideration by City Council. The sign
package request remains the same as approved by the Sign Board with the
exception of the removal of the previously requested monument sign (originally
identified as Location 18); three of the four single sided directional signs (leaving
only the addition identified as Location 13); and the Emergency Room (ER) signs
previously proposed for the awning (Location 21).
All other previously approved signage for the hospital, as well as the medical office
Case No.
MSP19-0003
building, is to remain.
Below is an updated summary of the requested signs:
Proposed Sign Brief Description Sign Ordinance 704-J Current
Master Sign Plan
Location 12, 13 and 16
Single Sided
Location 15
Single Sided
• Four (4) One (1) non-illuminated
single sided directional signs
• 10.5 square feet in area
• 3.5 feet in height
• Aluminum cabinet with vinyl
graphics
• The proposed signs are of the same
material and size of the existing
directional signs.
• Maximum 3 foot
height
• 4 sf per sign face: 8
sf for 2 sided sign
face
• Maximum sign
structure of 10 sf
• Two signs allowed
per site
• A minimum of 6
inches of sign
structure must
completely surround
sign face.
• Three (3) non-
illuminated single
sided directional
signs
• Two (2) illuminated
single sided
directional signs
• Five (5) total
• 10.5 square feet in
area
• 3.5 feet in height
• Aluminum cabinet
with vinyl graphics
Location 17
Side A
Location 17
Side B
• One (1) non-illuminated double
sided directional sign
• 10.5 square feet in area
• 3.5 feet in height
• Aluminum cabinet with vinyl
graphics
• Maximum 3 foot
height
• 4 sf per sign face: 8
sf for 2 sided sign
face
• Maximum sign
structure of 10 sf
• Two signs allowed
per site
• A minimum of 6
inches of sign
structure must
completely surround
sign face.
• Three (3) non-
illuminated single
sided directional
signs
• Two (2) illuminated
single sided
directional signs
• Five (5) total
• 10.5 square feet in
area
• 3.5 feet in height
• Aluminum cabinet
with vinyl graphics
Case No.
MSP19-0003
Proposed Sign Brief Description Sign Ordinance 704-
J
Current
Master Sign Plan
Location 14 3
• One (1) non-illuminated V-shaped
directional sign (second side
added to existing sign to form a V)
• 10.5 square feet in area
• 3.5 feet in height
• Aluminum cabinet with vinyl
graphics
• The proposed signs are of the
same material and size of the
existing directional signs.
• Maximum 3 foot
height
• 4 sf per sign face: 8
sf for 2 sided sign
face
• Maximum sign
structure of 10 sf
• Two signs allowed
per site
• A minimum of 6
inches of sign
structure must
completely
surround sign face.
• There are no
regulations that
address V-shaped
directional signs
deeming them a
prohibited sign
type
• Three (3) non-
illuminated single
sided directional
signs
• Two (2)
illuminated single
sided directional
signs
• Five (5) total
• 10.5 square feet in
area
• 3.5 feet in height
• Aluminum cabinet
with vinyl graphics
Location 20
• One (1) non-illuminated attached
canopy identification sign
• Approx. 6 square feet in area
• 8 inch letter height
• ½ inch thick cut acrylic letters
mount flush to metal canopy
• The thickness of
the proposed sign
qualifies it as a Flat
Panel sign,
however, Flat
Panel signs are not
allowed in non-
industrial zoned
districts.
• Painted building
identification signs
are allowed,
however, limited to
less than 5 square
feet.
• Two (2) similar
signs currently
exist, one for the
parking garage and
the other for
outpatient
discharge. These
signs were
permitted with the
rebranding and
prior to the
adoption of
Ordinance No.
704-J which
specifically defines
Flat Panel signage.
• The proposed sign
is the same color
and dimension as
the existing signs
described above.
Case No.
MSP19-0003
Proposed Sign Brief Description Sign Ordinance
704-J
Current
Master Sign Plan
REMOVED FROM REQUEST
Location 18
• One (1) internally illuminated
monument sign, approx. 600
feet east from existing
monument
• Total sign height is 12 feet
• Total Sign face height is 6 feet 8
3/8 inches
• Sign width is 24 feet
• Approx. 109 square feet sign
face area
• Maximum
monument
signs allowed is
two. Must be at
least 500 feet
apart.
• Maximum total
sign height
allowed is 12
feet
• Maximum sign
face height
allowed is 10
feet
• Maximum sign
face area
allowed is 80
square feet
• A minimum of 6
inches of sign
structure must
surround sign
face.
• 8 inch address
numerals
required.
• One (1) existing
monument/wall sign
• Back lit letters on
metal panel
• Total sign height is 5
feet
• Total sign face height
is 3 feet 8 inches
• Sign (face) width is 16
feet 8 inches
• Masonry wall is
approx. 49 feet wide
• Sign face area is
approx. 57 square feet
Location 19
• One (1) face lit (red) attached
building sign
• Approx. 120 square feet in area
• 3 feet 6 ½ inch (42 ½ inches)
letter height
• Right justified placement
• Upper story
signage requires
City Council
approval.
• Face lit signs
must be a
neutral color.
• Max area
allowed is 190
square feet
• Max letter
height allowed
is 42 inches
• Attached sign
must fit into the
middle 75% of
the single plane
façade.
• The existing signage
directing people to the
emergency room are
the five (5) directional
(way finding) signs and
a small canopy sign.
Case No.
MSP19-0003
Proposed Sign Brief Description Sign Ordinance
704-J
Current
Master Sign Plan
REMOVED FROM REQUEST
Location 21
• Two (2) face lit (red) attached
canopy signs (one on each side)
• Approx. 1 ½ square feet in area
• 12 inch letter height
• Face lit signs
must be neutral
in color.
• Painted building
identification
signs are
allowed,
however, limited
to 5 square feet
in area.
• One (1) existing
Emergency canopy
sign as shown in
submitted photo.
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Master Sign Plan Amendment
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Presentation
Narrative
Texas Administrative Code
Signage Packet
MSP16-006
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (748-8072)
Lorrie Fletcher (748-8069)
Case No. Attachment A
MSP19-0003 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: ASI Signage Innovations
OWNER: Methodist Southlake Hospital
PROPERTY SITUATION: 401-451 E. SH 114
HISTORY: March 5, 2013; City Council approved the (Forest Park) Master Sign Plan as
presented to include the revised Emergency Monument sign that was
distributed during the meeting. (MSP13-002)
April 16, 2013; City Council approved on the consent agenda the
amendment to the Forest Park Master Sign Plan for the attached signs for
the parking garage. (MSP13-004)
June 2, 2015; City Council approved a sign amendment to the Forest Park
Medical site for the Medical Office Building subject to the following with a list
of stipulations applied to Building ‘1’ and all other medical office buildings
built on this campus; the east and west elevations will be limited to the
“Southlake Medical” signs as represented on the renderings as well as the
building identification number; the north elevation will be allowed a ‘tenant
one’ sign, however, the specific sign(s) shall be required to come back for
Council approval; the ‘tenant three’ sign for Clinic 21 is approved for Building
‘1’ with the same letter type, color and illumination as the “Southlake Medical”
signs on the east and west elevations; and no other proposed tenant signage
is approved. (MSP15-002)
September 6, 2016; City Council approved a rebranding master sign
package for Methodist Southlake Hospital. The MSP included four (4)
attached signs for the hospital and parking garage, and five (5) directional
signs. The approval allowed the MSP as proposed and accepting the
applicant’s agreement to limit the directional signs to three (3) and reduce
their size to 10 ½ square feet. (MSP16-006)
SIGN BOARD: April 4, 2019; Approved (5-1) subject to the Staff Report dated April 4, 2019;
approving all proposed signs with exception to the new (secondary)
monument sign, identified as Location 18.
Commissioner Springer dissented because he felt the existing Emergency
Room signage met the requirements of the Texas Code.
Commissioner Rothmeier noted there is potential to amend the general Sign
Ordinance No. 704, as amended, to address pre-existing signage when
proposing variances for consistency (in this case, as it pertained to the flat
panel).
CITY COUNCIL: March 17, 2020; Approved to Table (5-0) on Consent to a future meeting
date.
STAFF COMMENTS: City Council approval of the proposed signs does not eliminate the
Case No. Attachment A
MSP19-0003 Page 2
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.
April 2016; two (2) Emergency directional signs were administratively
approved at the request of the Hospital to address compliance with the
Texas Administrative Code regarding Hospital Licensing. A copy of the code
is included.
Design Guidelines - Master Sign Plans:
Commercial signage is an integral part of the urban design fabric of Southlake. It is absolutely
necessary and shall be deemed as a tool that helps promote the health, safety and welfare of the
general public by providing guidance to both the vehicular driver and pedestrian. Due to its visual
prominence and effect on the overall design character of our city, signage as part of master sign
plans must be considered on the broader scale of community rather than on an individual site basis.
Signage is an integral part of the visual urban streetscape and shall not be designed to visually
compete with its surroundings, but rather serve to build on the quality of the traveler’s and
pedestrian’s experience. The basis for submitting a master sign plan application should not be to
have larger signs or logos permitted by ordinance but should clearly be related to the sign design
goals listed below:
Design Goals
1. To develop organized hierarchies of signage design types that help identify the
location and size standards for individual signs without infringing on the capability of
creative design.
2. To establish design criteria that promote the overall visual quality of the streetscape
environment for the general public while providing reasonable and improved
standards for identification of individual properties.
3. To improve the overall visual cohesive appearance of the site through signage
guidelines, with strong consideration that the visual streetscape.
4. To promote a “sense of place” for the City of Southlake while promoting creative
design for individual developments.
5. To promote signage as an architectural complement rather than being visually and
thematically disconnected.
Master Signage Plan Application
The master signage program application shall include, at a minimum, the following
to be deemed a completed application:
A master site plan showing a location of each of the proposed signage type(s).
Dimension and label the sign types and include distance measurement of the signs
location from the nearest public right-of way.
Provide signage elevations (dimensioned and labeled) indicating proposed text
Case No. Attachment A
MSP19-0003 Page 3
areas, materials, material finishes, colors, lighting and identifiable references as to
how the signage design relates to the proposed architecture. Identify any
landscaping elements proposed.
For all signage is to be mounted on building façades, provide accurate building
elevations that show signage dimension, signage location, text areas, materials,
material finishes, colors and identifiable references as to how the signage de sign
relates to the proposed architecture.
If the applicant is requesting any variances from the current regulations as part of
the master sign plan, please indicate the location of the variance, what the variance
request is for and specific reason/justification for the variance and how the variance
promotes are adheres to the design goals provided.
A master sign plan application 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.
The sign design guidelines are designed to help ensure quality signs that
communicate their message in a clear fashion; however, the “guidelines” are not as
strict as sign “standards.” The review authority may interpret the design guidelines
with some flexibility in their application to specific signs/projects, as not all design
criteria may be workable or appropriate for each sign or project. In some
circumstances, one guideline may be relaxed to facilitate compliance with another
guideline determined by the review authority to be more important in the particular
case. The overall objective is to ensure that the intent and spirit of the design
guidelines are followed.
N:\Community Development\MEMO\Signs\Conditional Sign Permits\MSP19-0003 - Methodist Southlake Hospital Amendment\City Council 3\Item 9D.docx
Case No. Attachment B
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MSP19-0003