Item 4M
Department of Planning & Development Services
S T A F F R E P O R T
January 30, 2008
SP 07-181A
CASE NO:
Sign Variance for Edwin Watts Golf
PROJECT:
REQUEST: Barnett Signs, on behalf of Edwin Watts Golf, is requesting a variance from the Sign
Ordinance No. 704-C regulations for letter height and sign width for attached signs.
The subject property is located at 2801 East S.H. 114 in Gateway Plaza. Although the
property is a part of the Gateway Plaza shopping center, it is not within the boundaries
of the Gateway Plaza Phase I and Phase II Conditional Sign Permits and Sign
Ordinance No. 704-C applies.
The applicant is requesting to relocate the existing sign on the north elevation facing
S.H. 114 from the center of the storefront to the easternmost portion of the storefront
because the current sign location is obscured by trees. In addition, the new sign
location will require the sign to be two lines of text rather than one.
The applicant received a variance for letter height for the existing sign on June 19,
2007. The new location will require a variance for letter height as well as sign width.
The sign width variance is required because the eastern horizontally articulated façade
is narrower than the central horizontally articulated façade.
The specific variances requested are as follows:
Sign Ordinance No. 704-C Regulations
Sign Regulation Current Regulation Proposed Regulation
Maximum Letter Height 28.5 inches 30.25 inches
(as approved in June 2007)
Maximum Sign Width 18 feet 20 feet 2 inches
Gateway Plaza Conditional Sign Permit Regulations
(For Retailers Under 15,000 Square Feet)
Sign Regulation Phase I Regulation Phase II Regulation
Maximum Letter Height 36 inches 30 inches
Case No.
SP 07-181A
ACTION NEEDED: Consider variance request.
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
(C) Site Plan
(D) Proposed Sign and Existing Conditions
(E) Adjacent Signs in Gateway Plaza
(F) Sign Variance Application
STAFF CONTACT: Ken Baker (748-8067) or Jenny Crosby (748-8195)
Case No.
SP 07-181A
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Zeke Bullock, Barnett Signs, Inc.
OWNER: Edwin Watts Golf
PROPERTY SITUATION: The property address is 2801 East S.H. 114 in Gateway Plaza.
STAFF COMMENTS: The sign criteria, site plan and application are attached to this report.
HISTORY: On June 19, 2007, City Council approved a variance for maximum letter
height for a sign on the north elevation and for a sign on the east elevation.
The maximum letter height established for the north elevation was 30.25
inches and the maximum letter height established for the east elevation was
24 inches. In addition, City Council specified that the raceway on both signs
shall not be visible.
N:\Community Development\MEMO\SIGNS\2007\SP07-181A Edwin Watts Golf.doc
Case No. Attachment A
SP 07-181APage 1
Case No. Attachment B
SP 07-181APage 1
Site Plan
S.H. 114
Proposed Sign
Existing Sign
Location
(to be relocated)
Existing Sign
Case No. Attachment C
SP 07-181APage 1
Proposed Sign (Existing Sign Moved to New Location)
Case No. Attachment D
SP 07-181APage 1
Existing Views – North Elevation
Case No. Attachment D
SP 07-181APage 2
Case No. Attachment D
SP 07-181APage 3
Existing View - East Elevation (no changes proposed)
Case No. Attachment D
SP 07-181APage 4
Adjacent Signs in Gateway Plaza
Case No. Attachment E
SP 07-181APage 1
Case No. Attachment E
SP 07-181APage 2
Case No. Attachment E
SP 07-181APage 3
Sign Variance Application
Case No. Attachment F
SP 07-181APage 1
Demonstration
Please demonstrate that the following conditions are applicable to the requested sign variance:
1. That a literal enforcement of the sign regulation will create an unnecessary hardship or practical
difficulty on the applicant.
The literal enforcement of the sign regulation creates an unnecessary hardship due to a
group of large trees located directly in front of the sign's current location. The visibility of
the sign is almost 100% blocked by this group of trees.
2. That the situation causing the unnecessary hardship or practical difficulty is unique to the affected
property and is not self imposed.
This situation is unique to Edwin Watts and not self imposed because the North Elevation of
this building is located directly next to a group of trees, which the majority of, are not
located on Edwin Watts property. Edwin Watts has no control on the removal/growth of
these trees.
3. That the variance will not injure and will be wholly compatible with the use and permitted
development of adjacent properties.
The approval of this variance will not injure the development of adjacent properties because
it is not allowing for a larger or brighter sign that other tenants are not allowed to have. This
variance will simply give Edwin Watts the ability to relocate their existing sign that meets all
other signage restrictions on an area of their building that is visible to the public traveling
SH 114.
4. That the variance will be in harmony with the spirit and purpose of the sign ordinance.
This variance is in harmony with the spirit and purpose of the sign ordinace in that it meets
all other regulations including letter height and square footage restrictions. The approval of
this variance only gives Edwin Watts the ability to identity itself, promote its brand, market
itself, and attract customers in a fair manner that is available to other tenants.
Case No. Attachment F
SP 07-181APage 2