Item 9A - Demonstration and PlansSIGN VARIANCE APPLICATION
Demonstration
Please demonstrate that the following conditions are applicable to the requested sign variance:
That a literal enforcement of the sign regulation will create an unnecessary hardship or practical
difficulty on the applicant.
If we are not able to use our sign holders, our snap signs will not be able to inform customers about
safety information, car wash promotions, and the car wash menu. The mat washer sign also informs
customers of benefits that are available to them. The directional sign will also help the safety and
wayfinding ability for our customers. The lights and light band will help customers see our building,
especially at night. The promotional sign between the pay lanes will also help customers be
informed on what is going on with the wash.
2. That the situation causing the unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty is unique to the affected
property and is not self imposed.
The snap signs, mat wash sign, directional entrance sign, decorative light band, and promotional sign
are all standard at all Tommy's locations. These are crucial to us to be able to run the business
correctly, and make sure customers can access the wash safely and efficiently. The holiday lights are
also for increased visibility and traffic safety for customers as they drive by.
3. That the variance will not injure and will be wholly compatible with the use and permitted
development of adjacent properties.
The variance will not cause any issues with any adjacent properties and will not negatively affect the
public. It will help the public access our car wash and benefit from the service we provide to the
community.
4. That the variance will be in harmony with the spirit and purpose of the sign ordinance.
The variance will not cause any issues and will allow us to operate our wash in the safest, most
efficient way possible. These variance requests are still in harmony with what the sign ordinance aims
to achieve.
1400 Main Street, Suite 310, Southlake, TX 76092
Phone: (817) 748-8215 Fax: (817) 748-8077
Revised January 2023
c4a:
CH RISTIANSON
C O M P A N I E 5
November 24, 2025
City of Southlake, TX
RE: Signage Variance
To whom it may concern,
Christianson Companies is requesting the approval of a Signage variance for a car wash
project located at 3230 W. Southlake Blvd
Tommy's Express is one of the largest and fastest growing franchises in the country. Our
business model includes individual washes as well as a monthly TommyClub membership that
gives customers unlimited washes, access to the TommyClub express lane, and allows them to
update their membership on the Tommy's Express Mobile App. Our car wash is also
environmentally friendly. We utilize a water reclamation system that reuses 30% of the water
used per wash and our clear acrylic roof system allows for daylight harvesting so no lighting is
required during most operational hours. In our express wash, customers never get out of their car
or enter the building. They are in their car during the wash and then they can park in the vacuum
stalls to use the vacuums. The only reason a customer would enter the building is to use the
public restroom. Hours of operation are 7AM-9PM Monday -Sunday.
With this variance, we are respectfully requesting the approval of the following items:
I . The use of Tommy's standard snap sign holders in 5 locations represented by blue lines
on the Signage Diagram
2. A sign above our free mat washer room, explaining to customers that it is there for their
complimentary use.
3. One Directional Entrance Signs to help customers find the entrance to the pay lanes.
4. A Tommy's Standard Red Decorative Light Band along the east side of the building Removed
5. Holiday lights along the front of the building for visibility Removed
6. Promotional sign in between the pay lanes
The Tommy Stainless snap sign arch holders are standard in all Tommy's Express Car
Washes and are cohesive with our building design. These snap sign holders are 78.75" tall, and
42" wide. The dimensions and diagram is shown on the two exhibits attached called Snap Sign
Dimensions I and Snap Sign Dimensions 2. I have also included exhibits that show the
dimensions for the signs that attach to the snap sign holders. These all work cohesively with the
aesthetic of the building and help notify customers of promotions, safety precautions, the wash
menu, and other important information. The 3 snap signs along the drive-thru lanes on the east
side of the building are all tilted 30 degrees and are 20 feet apart as shown on the Signage
Separation diagram attached.
Tommy's Express includes a state-of-the-art car mat washer that is complimentary for Tommy's
customers. These mat washers are located behind a door that is on the northwest corner of the
building. We are requesting a variance to allow a sign that will say "FREE mat washers here" so
that customers are informed and know where to go to have their mats washed. The attached Mat
Washer Sign Diagrams show how it will look if this variance is granted.
Since the car wash has been opened, we have found that some customers have had some trouble
finding the entrance to the pay lanes in order to enter the wash, especially at night. We are
proposing to add one Directional Entrance Signs to help customers find the correct entrance and
avoid driving into the car wash tunnel. These signs say "Enter" and is 47.75" tall and 28.5" wide.
This sign is standard at all Tommy's locations and are important for safety and wayfinding for
customers.
We are also requesting approval of a decorative light band on the southeast portion of the
Removed building below the roof line. This is also standard at all Tommy's locations and helps light up the
building. When customers are driving west on W. Southlake Blvd, it can be difficult to see our
building with the large water treatment structures on the east side of our building. There are also
no streetlights on this road, so the building can be difficult to see.
We are looking to add holiday lights along the front of the building for better visibility. This
Removed would be a permanent string light system provided by a local company called Trimlight DFW.
The LED lights are spaced 9 inches apart and are multi -colored and programmable.
Finally, we are requesting approval to keep our promotional sign in between the pay lanes. This
is a sign that tells customers what deals and promotions we have available, and the sign content
changes depending on time of the year and what promotions are going on. This is standard at all
Tommy's locations and helps keep the customers informed.
For the reasons/conditions explained on the signage variance application, Christianson
Companies sincerely asks that the City of Southlake approve our request for a Signage Variance
Tommy's Express offers the best car wash on the market and holds its franchises to the highest
standards of training, efficiency, and professionalism. We would love to provide a valuable
service to the citizens of Southlake, and partner with the community to be a benefit to all who
live there.
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