Item 9B
Department of Planning & Development Services
S T A F F R E P O R T
February 13, 2008
SP 08-016
CASE NO:
Sign Variance for Tom Thumb
PROJECT:
REQUEST: Reynolds Sign, on behalf of Tom Thumb, is requesting a variance from the Sign
Ordinance No. 704-C regulations for attached signs. The subject property is located at
100 West Southlake Boulevard. The applicant is requesting to remove the existing
“Wells Fargo” sign and replace it with a “Pharmacy” sign, remove the existing “Tom
Thumb Food & Pharmacy” sign and replace it with a “Tom Thumb” sign, and add a
“Signature Deli” sign for a total of three signs on the tenant’s lease space. All three
signs are proposed on the south façade facing West Southlake Boulevard. Under Sign
Ordinance No. 704-C, only one sign is allowed per lease space per street frontage, up
to two signs total. Further, the three signs together are approximately 373 square
feet, which exceeds the maximum allowed sign area of 203 square feet for this lease
space. In addition, the proposed “Tom Thumb” sign has a maximum letter height of 72
inches, which exceeds the maximum allowed letter height of 36 inches.
The specific variances requested are as follows:
Sign Regulation Current Regulation Existing Signs Proposed Regulation
Number of Signs 1 per street frontage; 1 per street frontage 3 per street frontage; 3
2 maximum (“Wells Fargo” was maximum
considered a separate tenant)
Maximum Sign 203 square feet Tom Thumb: 266 sq. ft. Tom Thumb: 289 sq. ft.
Area Wells Fargo: 104 sq. ft. Pharmacy: 59 sq. ft.
Total: 370 sq. ft. Deli: 25 sq. ft.
Total: 373 sq. ft.
Maximum Letter 36 inches 60 inches 72 inches
Height (Tom (as approved by variance)
Thumb Sign)
ACTION NEEDED: Consider variance request.
ATTACHMENTS: (A) Background Information
(B) Vicinity Map
Case No.
SP 08-016
(C) Site Plan
(D) Existing and Proposed Signs
(E) Sign Variance Application
STAFF CONTACT: Ken Baker (748-8067) or Jenny Crosby (748-8195)
Case No.
SP 08-016
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
APPLICANT: Brad Pilkington, Reynolds Sign, on behalf of Tom Thumb
OWNER: Inland Western Southlake Suntree Limited Partnership
PROPERTY SITUATION: The property address is 100 West Southlake Boulevard.
STAFF COMMENTS: The sign criteria, site plan and application are attached to this report.
HISTORY: On August 15, 2000, City Council approved a variance to allow a maximum
letter height of 60 inches for the existing “Tom Thumb” sign.
N:\Community Development\MEMO\SIGNS\2008\SP08-016 Tom Thumb.doc
Case No. Attachment A
SP 07-181APage 1
Case No. Attachment B
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Site Plan
Case No. Attachment C
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Existing Signs
Tom Thumb – 60 inch letters
Wells Fargo – 24 inch letters
Case No. Attachment D
SP 08-016Page 1
Proposed Signs
Case No. Attachment D
SP 08-016Page 2
Case No. Attachment D
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Case No. Attachment D
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Sign Variance Application
Tom Thumb
100 West Southlake Boulevard
Southlake, Texas
Variance Request to Ordinance N. 704-C, Sign Ordinance
Section 7. Permanent Signs Requiring a Permit
Table 4: Attached Signs
Regional Boulevards: Maximum Letter Height, Maximum Area
Our Tom Thumb store located at 100 West Southlake Boulevard recently completed an
extensive interior remodel, including the addition of the Signature Deli. To coincide with the
new interior changes and department additions, we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to
upgrade our exterior identity to meet new corporate standards. We respectfully request
variances that will amend the original variances approved by Council on August 5, 2000.
Our desire is to remove all existing Tom Thumb signage from the south (front) elevation and
replace with new ones. The existing consists of two signs, one being Tom Thumb channel
letters with underscore and Food and Pharmacy channel letters, totaling 266 square feet. The
second sign consists of Wells Fargo channel letters with channel logo cabinet, totaling 104
square feet. Total overall square footage of signs to be removed is 370.
With Council approval, we will install three new individual signs consisting of the following:
1. Tom Thumb halo lit reverse channel letters with underscore.
2. Pharmacy reverse channel letters with pestle icon.
3. Signature Deli circular cabinet logo.
Total square footage of signs to be installed is 373 square feet.
Square footage breakdowns are attached under separate cover.
Variance Requests Based on Code
To exceed the 36” maximum sign height allowance.
We request 72” capital letters for the Tom Thumb sign. The lower case letters in script format
will be 36” (excluding the upward arm of the “h” and “b”). Code allows 1” of additional sign
height for every 10’ of setback in excess of 100’. The store setback of 445’ would allow a sign
height of 53-1/2”, if not capped by code at 36”. We ask Council’s permission to increase the
sign height to accommodate the capital letters and the extenders required for script format. The
remaining letters will meet code restrictions.
To exceed overall square footage allowance set by code.
Code allows .70 square feet of overall signage area for every 1’ of building frontage, not to
Case No. Attachment E
SP 08-016Page 1
exceed 300 square feet. Our frontage is 290’. Based on .70%, we are allowed a total sign area
of 203 square feet. We request a variance to exceed the 203 square feet allowance by 169.89
square feet. Our total requested signage equals only 3% of the overall wall area and
approximately 18% of the building width.
We are excited about the new look of our store. The signage requested will be informative but
not excessive. We strongly feel that our requests are within reason and will not be grounds for
setting any form of precedent nor will they be harmful to the community or detrimental to public
safety. We are simply asking Council’s approval to upgrade our exterior identity in order for it
to function in a more visually appealing and informative fashion.
Thank you for your consideration.
EXISTING SIGNS TO BE REMOVED
SIGN 1
Tom Thumb Face lit channel letters 5’10” X 29’ (169.07 sq. ft.)
Underscore Face lit channel cabinet 8” X 29’ (19.25 sq. ft.)
Food & Pharmacy Face lit channel letters 2’ X 29’ (58 sq. ft.)
Total square footage calculated separately: 246.32
Total square footage calculated as one entity: 265.83 (9’2” X 29’)
SIGN 2
Wells Fargo Face lit channel letters 24” X 25’ (50 sq. ft.)
Logo Face lit channel cabinet 24” X 7’10” (15.66 sq. ft.)
Total square footage calculated separately: 65.66
Total square footage calculated as on entity: 104.15 (4’2” X 25’)
Total Square Footage to be Removed, Sign 1 and Sign 2 Combined: 369.98
REQUESTED SIGNS TO BE INSTALLED
SIGN 1
Tom Thumb Reverse halo lit channel letters 7’ X 34’8” (242.66 sq. ft.)
Underscore Reverse halo lit channel cabinet 8” X 34’8” (23.08 sq. ft.)
Total square footage calculated separately: 265.74
Total square footage calculated as one entity: 288.87 (8’4” X 34’8”)
SIGN 2
Pharmacy Reverse halo lit channel letters 2’6” X 13’10” (34.57 sq. ft.)
Pestle Icon Reverse halo lit channel letters 3’3” X 3’10” (12.44 sq. ft.)
Case No. Attachment E
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Total square footage calculated separately: 47.01
Total square footage calculated as one entity: 59.02 (3’3” 18’2”)
Signature Deli Face lit channel cabinet 5’ diameter (25 sq. ft.)
Total Overall Square Footage Requested, Sign 1, Sign 2 and Sign 3: 372.89
________________________________________________________________________
Building frontage: 290’
Building setback: 445’
Typical building height: 42’
Case No. Attachment E
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