Item 9ACase No.
SV20-0010
S T A F F R E P O R T
August 25, 2020
CASE NO: SV20-0010
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Stretch Lab
REQUEST: Mister Sign Man is requesting approval of a variance to the Sign Ordinance No.
704, as amended, for an existing attached sign. The property is located at
2600 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 160, Southlake, Texas. The Stretch Lab lease
space is located within the Gateway Plaza Phase II (Wyndham Plaza) and
generally located at the northwest intersection of N. Nolen Drive and E.
Southlake Blvd.
Stretch Lab is requesting a variance to Sign Ordinance No. 704, as amended,
to allow a backer plate for each of the “LAB” logo channel letters as part of the
overall signage for the store. Backer plates are not permitted. The initial Stretch
Lab sign permit for the lease space was approved in July 2019 and included 3
face lit rectangular logo letters. Since the approved installation, the tenant
revised the sign to include 3 backer plates (blue, black, and red) for new “LAB”
back lit channel letters without an approved sign permit. The sign currently
meets the sign ordinance for letter height, sign width, and sign area.
Approved Sign
Requested Sign
Case No.
SV20-0010
Sign Regulation
Conditional Sign
Permit for
Gateway Plaza
Phase II
Permitted by
Sign Ordinance 704-J Proposed
Letter Height 30 inches NA 20.2 inch
Sign Area 45 sf NA 28.2 sf
Sign Width 75% of lease
space:14.7 ft. NA 13.9 ft.
Backer Plate NA Prohibited unless approved by
City Council with a variance
3 qty. 28.5” x 14.9”
backer plates
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Variance
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
ZA20-0010 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Mister Sign Man
PROPERTY SITUATION: 2600 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 160, 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)
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)
June 6, 2000; A Conditional Sign Permit was approved for The Gateway
Plaza Phase II development.
October 19, 2004; City Council approved an amendment to the
Conditional Sign Permit for the Gateway Plaza Phase II development to
allow a total of three monument signs along East Southlake Boulevard
(including the existing entry feature sign west of North Nolen Drive) by
eliminating monument sign SN2A and replacing SN2 with the revised
plan submitted.
August 20, 2015; City Council approve the motion to deny the Pollo
Tropical’s request for the third attached sign on the west elevation.
Case No. Attachment A
ZA20-0010 Page 2
SIGN BOARD: August 20, 2020; approved (5-1) the motion to deny the variance
request.
Commissioner Lepp dissented wanting other sign options.
STAFF COMMENTS: 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.
Variance Criteria:
9.6.2 VARIANCES
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.
a. 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
Case No. Attachment A
ZA20-0010 Page 3
Sign Board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for
their consideration.
N:\Community Development\MEMO\Signs\2020\SV20-0010 – Stretch Lab
Case No. Attachment B
ZA20-0010 Page 1