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Item 9B - Tom ThumbCase No. SV20-0013 S T A F F R E P O R T October 13, 2020 CASE NO: SV20-0013 PROJECT: Sign Variances for Tom Thumb – Drive Up & Go EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: On behalf of Tom Thumb, Comet Signs is requesting approval of variances to Sign Ordinance No. 704, as amended, to add an additional attached sign to the existing Tom Thumb grocery store located at 100 W. Southlake Blvd., Suite 200, Southlake, Texas. DETAILS: Tom Thumb is located in the retail development at the northwest corner of White Chapel Blvd. and West Southlake Blvd. The applicant is requesting variances to Sign Ordinance No. 704, as amended, to accommodate the addition of a third attached sign on the east end of south façade where two existing signs (Tom Thumb and Pharmacy) are currently located. Only one sign is permitted under the current Sign Ordinance. A variance was granted in 2008 to allow the two existing signs. An additional sign for Starbucks (SP07-315, approved as a separate tenant within the store) is located on the south façade west of the Pharmacy sign. The third sign is to identify the location of the “Drive Up & Go” service. Since the October 8, 2020 Sign Board meeting, the applicant has provided two additional options for the proposed car logo of the sign as requested by the Sign Board. Case No. SV20-0013 Below is a summary of the requested variances: Sign Regulation Current Regulation 704-J Existing Signs: Tom Thumb and Pharmacy (SV08-016) Proposed Regulation Number of Signs 1 per street frontage; 2 maximum 2 per street frontage 3 signs on a street frontage Maximum Sign Area 400 square feet Tom Thumb: 289 sf Pharmacy: 35 sf Total: 324 sf Tom Thumb: 289 sf Pharmacy: 35 sf Drive Up & Go: 26 sf Total: 335 sf Max. Letter Ht./ Logo Ht. 42 inches/52.5 inches Tom Thumb: 72 inches Pharmacy: 30 inches Drive Up & Go: 13 & 14 in. Logo: 48 inches ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Variances ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information (B) Vicinity Map Presentation Demonstration Plans STAFF CONTACT: Ken Baker 817-748-8067 Patty Moos 817-748-8269 Case No. Attachment A SV20-0005 Page 1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION APPLICANT: Comet Signs OWNER: Tom Thumb / Albertsons PROPERTY SITUATION: 100 W. Southlake Blvd. HISTORY: August 15, 2000, City Council approved a variance to allow a maximum letter height of 60 inches for the existing “Tom Thumb” sign with a Pharmacy tag line. February 19, 2008; City Council approved the “Tom Thumb” sign (60 inches) and “Pharmacy” sign without the mortar and pestle and did not approve a “Signature Café” sign. (SP08-016) March 5, 2020; Sign Board approved the motion to table a sign variance request for parking lot grocery pick-up signage. (SV20-0005) SIGN BOARD: October 8, 2020; Approved (6-1) subject to the Staff Report dated October 2, 2020; and noting the applicant’s willingness to bring forward alternative colors including neutral colors before the City Council. Commissioner Michael Springer dissented as he did not think the sign was needed. 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 Case No. Attachment A SV20-0005 Page 2 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. N:\Community Development\MEMO\Signs\Sign Variance\2020\SV20-0013 - Tom Thumb Case No. Attachment B SV20-0013 Page 1