SB Item 5Case No.
SV21-0015
S T A F F R E P O R T
August 13, 2021
CASE NO: SV21-0015
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Variosystems EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: Variosystems, Inc. is requesting approval of a variance to Sign Ordinance No.
704, as amended, to update the signage with two upper story attached building
signs each with non-illuminated channel letter with blue and black letters on each
sign. The building is located at 901 S. Kimball Avenue, Southlake, Texas.
REQUEST
DETAILS: The Variosystems building is located just north of the intersection of S. Kimball
Avenue and E. Continental Blvd.
The specific variance requested for the attached sign is as follows:
Sign Regulation Permitted by
704, as amended
Proposed
(SV21-0015)
West Sign
(Line-of-sight from N. Kimball Avenue:
188 ft.)
• 24 in. letters
• Sign width: 66.3 ft.
• Sign area: 142.1 sf
• Sign to be located within the 75% of
façade width
• Upper story permitted with City Council
approval
• Non-illuminated, 3- dimensional metal
or plastic letters with > 2in. depth/return
• 18 in. and 17.7 in. letters
• Sign width: 17.38 ft.
• Sign area: 26.08 sf
• Sign not located within 75% of
façade width – approx. 5.75 ft. from
edge of the building (needs to be 11
ft. from edge to be compliant with
middle 75%).
• Signs located on upper story above
2nd floor
• Non-illuminated, 3- dimensional
metal or plastic letters with > 2in.
depth/return
South Sign
(Line-of-sight from N. Kimball Avenue:
294 ft.)
• 24 in. letters
• Sign width: 73.8 ft.
• Allowable sign area: 161.7 sf.
• Sign to be located within the 75% of
façade width
• Upper story permitted with City Council
approval
• Non-illuminated, 3- dimensional metal
or plastic letters with > 2in. depth/return
• 18 in. letters and 17.7 in. letters
• Sign width: 17.38 ft.
• Sign area: 26.08 sf
• Sign not located within 75% of
façade width – approx. 5.75 ft. from
edge of the building (needs to be 12
ft. from edge to be compliant with
middle 75%).
• Signs located on upper story above
2nd floor
• Non-illuminated, 3- dimensional
metal or plastic letters with > 2in.
depth/return
The proposed sign meets all requirements of the Sign Ordinance 704, as
Case No.
SV21-0015
amended, except for the upper story location and the signs not being located
within the 75% of the façade.
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Sign Variance
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Presentation
Demonstration
Plans
STAFF CONTACT: Dennis Killough (817)748-8072
Patty Moos (817)748-8269
Case No. Attachment A
SV21-0015 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Variosystems, Inc.
OWNER: Franks Koons.
PROPERTY SITUATION: 901 S. Kimball Avenue, Southlake, Texas
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lot 2R1, Green Meadow Subdivision
CURRENT ZONING: “I-1” Light Industrial District
STRATEGIC LINK: C4 – Attract & keep top-tier businesses to drive a dynamic & sustainable
economic environment
HISTORY: A permit was issued for the construction of the building in in 2006.
Two sign permits for the building were issued in 2007 for the west and
south façade.
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
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 do not merely constitute pecuniary hardship or
inconveniences, and;
Case No. Attachment A
SV21-0015 Page 2
(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.
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 may be reached at 817-748-8215 or
scarpenter@ci.southlake.tx.us.
Variance Criteria:
9.6.2 VARIANCES
c. 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.
d. 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;
Case No. Attachment A
SV21-0015 Page 3
(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
ZA21-0015 Page 1