SB Item 7Case No.
SV21-0008
S T A F F R E P O R T
April 30, 2021
CASE NO: SV21-0008
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Five Below
EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: Sign Installation Group, Inc. is requesting approval of variances to Sign
Ordinance No. 704, as amended, and the Gateway Plaza I Master Sign Plan
(MSP) for an attached building sign with individual internally illuminated channel
letters on backer plate for the Five Below sign located on the south elevation and
a variance to allow a blue background on two tower monument tenant panel
signs. The proposed attached sign is located at 2910 E. Southlake Blvd.,
Southlake, Texas. The two tower monument signs are located at 2800 E.
Southlake Blvd. and 3112 E. Southlake Blvd.
REQUEST
DETAILS: The Five Below lease space is generally located approximately 950 feet east of
the northeast intersection of N. Nolen Drive and E. Southlake Blvd. and located
within Gateway Plaza Phase I. The lease space is approximately 9,300 square
feet in floor area, categorizing it in the Master Sign Plan as a “small anchor.” The
approved Gateway Plaza Phase I Master Sign Plan for this lease space allows a
maximum signage area of 42 inches by 33 ft. in width (115.5 sq. ft. area), a
maximum letter height of 42 inches and requires aluminum channel letters with
Plexiglas faces. The proposed sign will have internally lit 39-inch white channel
letters with a 42 inch by 24 ft. blue backer plate (84 sf).
The specific variance requested for the attached sign is as follows:
Sign Regulation Permitted by MSP Permitted by
704, as amended Proposed
Attached Sign
Individually lit aluminum
channel letters with Plexiglas
fronts. Letters only.
Backer plate not listed in
MSP.
Individually lit aluminum
channel letters with logo.
No backer plate.
Individually lit
channel letters on
a backer plate
Letter Height 42 inches 36 inches 39 in.
Sign Area 115.5 sf 59.5 sf 84 sf
Backer Plate Not permitted Not permitted Backer plate
42 in. by 24 ft.
Case No.
SV21-0008
The two tower monument signs, approved in the Gateway Plaza Phase I master
sign plan, are located at 2800 and 3112 E. Southlake Blvd. The original tenants
were permitted to have different colored panels. The applicant is proposing a
blue background for each sign panel with white lettering. With the approval of the
Sign Ordinance 704-D on June 16, 2009, all monument tenant panels are
required to have a consistent background color. The newer tenants in this retail
development have installed tenant panels with a white background.
Sign Regulation Permitted by
MSP
Permitted by
704, as amended Proposed
Monument Sign
Tenant Panel Not specified
The background
color for all sign
panels shall be
consistent
Blue panel with
white lettering
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Sign Variances
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
PowerPoint Presentation
Demonstration
Plans
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (817)748-8072
Patty Moos (817)748-8269
Case No. Attachment A
SV21-0008 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Sign Installation Group, Inc.
PROPERTY SITUATION: 2910 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake, Texas
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 3, Block 1, Gateway Plaza Addition Phase I
CURRENT ZONING: “S-P-2” Generalized Site Plan District
STRATEGIC LINK: C4 – Attract & keep top-tier businesses to drive a dynamic & sustainable
economic environment
HISTORY: February 2, 1999; Master Sign Plan approved for Gateway Plaza Ph I.
December 7, 2004; Sign Variance for Shogun Restaurant was approved.
(SP04-268)
November 20, 2007; Sign Variance for Modia was approved. (SP07-396)
February 21, 2012; Sign Variance for Mellow Mushroom was approved.
(SV12-002)
June 19, 2012; Sign Variance for Modia was approved. (SV12-007)
February 5, 2013; Sign Variance for Men’s Wearhouse was approved.
(SV12-030)
October 1, 2019; Sign Variance was approved for The Christmas Shoppe.
(SV19-0011)
November 5, 2019; Sign Variance was approved for Epicenter for the Arts
(SV19-0016)
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.
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:
Case No. Attachment A
SV21-0008 Page 2
(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 Board’s recommendation will
be forwarded to the City Council for their consideration.
Case No. Attachment B
ZA21-0008 Page 1