SB Item 5Case No.
SV22-0006
S T A F F R E P O R T
May 13, 2022
CASE NO: SV22-0006
PROJECT: Sign Variance for Kohl’s + Sephora EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY: Mr. Sign Man is requesting approval of variances to Sign Ordinance No. 704, as
amended, and the Gateway Plaza I Master Sign Plan (MSP) to allow 2 attached
signs on the same elevation, signs that exceed the allowable sign area on an
elevation, a sign type that is not permitted in the Sign Ordinance or the Gateway
Plaza MSP, and push thru letters not defined in the Sign Ordinance. The
proposed attached sign is located at 3001 E. SH 114, Southlake, Texas.
REQUEST
DETAILS: The Kohl’s lease space is generally located approximately 480 feet north of the
northeast intersection of Gateway Drive and E. Southlake Blvd. and located
within the Gateway Plaza Phase I. The Kohl’s lease space is approximately
87,392 square feet in floor area, categorizing it in the Master Sign Plan as an
anchor store. The approved Gateway Plaza Phase I Master Sign Plan for this
lease space allows a maximum signage area of 5 feet by 39 ft. in width (195 sq.
ft. area), a maximum letter height of 60 inches and requires aluminum channel
letters with Plexiglas faces. The existing east elevation Kohl’s sign contains 5-
foot letters and is 193.3 sf in area. The proposed sign will be located on the same
east elevation directly below the existing Kohl’s sign and will have internally lit
18-inch white push thru acrylic letters on a 15 ft. by 2.66 ft. hanging cabinet sign
(39.9 sq. ft.). The total sign area for both signs of 233.2 sq. ft. and exceeds the
Master Sign Plan allowable sign area of 195 sq. ft. and the Sign Ordinance
allowable sign area of 224 sq. sf. The proposed push thru letters are not defined
in the Sign Ordinance. Cabinet signs are not permitted in the Sign Ordinance and
the Gateway Plaza Master Sign Plan.
Case No.
SV22-0006
Existing and Proposed Signs
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. Cabinet sign not
listed
• Push thru letters not listed
in MSP
• Individually lit
aluminum channel
letters with logo.
• Cabinet sign not
permitted
• Push thru letters not
defined in Sign Ord.
• Illuminated hanging
cabinet sign with push
thru acrylic letters
Letter Height 60 inches 42 inches 18 inches
Sign Area 195 sq. ft. 224 sq. ft.
Sephora: 39.9 sq. ft.
Kohl’s: 193.3 sq. ft.
Total area: 233.2 sq. ft.
ACTION NEEDED: Consider Approval of Requested Sign Variance
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
SV22-0006 Page 1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Mr. Sign Man
OWNER: Kite Realty
PROPERTY SITUATION: 3001 E. SH 114, 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)
May 18, 2021; Sign Variance for Five Below was denied for the backer
plate and monument sign panels. (SV21-0008)
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
Case No. Attachment A
SV22-0006 Page 2
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;
(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
ZA22-0006 Page 1