Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199000058 Action Letter 1990-07-30 1�pl ALl 8 AN KN COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 August 22 , 1990 Mitchell, Matthews & Associates 2350 Old Ivy Road Charlottesville, VA 22901 ATTN: Charles G. Mitchell, Jr. RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action VA-90-58, Tax Map 60, Parcel 40C1 Dear Mr. Mitchell: This letter is to inform you that on August 21, 1990, during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board approved your request for VA-90-58 subject to the following conditions: 1. No roof signs permitted, 2 . Freestanding sign height shall be limited to 8 square feet maximum, and the sign message shall name the development only 3 . Wall signs shall be limited to the following: a. No more than 32 signs total, of which only 12 may face on Route 250; b. No more than 1 sign per tenant; c. Maximum letter size shall be 12 inches with a maximum sign length of 84 inches or 7 feet, a total of 7 square feet maximum per sign. This variance approval allows relief from Sections 30. 5.2 .2 and 30. 5. 7 .2 to reduce the setback from a scenic highway from 150 feet to 5 feet, a variance of 145 feet; to increase the square footage of wall signs from 35 square feet to 500 square feet, a variance of 465 square feet; to increase the number of wall signs from 1 per highway frontage to 32 per highway frontage, a variance of 31 feet to increase the square footage of a freestanding business sign from 18 square feet to 32 square feet, a variance of 14 square feet subject to the conditions. Mitchell, Matthews & Associates August 24, 1990 Page 2 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, 4,(0„41 John Grady Deputy Zoning Administrator JG/st cc: VA-90-58 Townside East Limited Partnership STAFF PERSON: John Grady PUBLIC HEARING: August 21, 1990 STAFF REPORT - VA-90-58 OWNER: Townside East Limited Partnership APPLICANT: Mitchell, Matthews & Associates TAX MAP/PARCEL: 60/40C1 ZONING: HC, Highway Commercial ACREAGE: 2 . 34 acres LOCATION: Located on the southwest corner of Route 250 west and Colonnade Drive. REQUEST: The applicant requests relief from Sections 30.5.2 .2 and 30. 5.7 .2 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, which states: "30. 5. 2 .2 SA-HIGHWAYS SA-highways overlay districts are hereby established along the following highway corridors in Albemarle County for a distance of one hundred fifty (150) feet on each side of the right-of-way: a. U.S. Route 250 from the western corporate limits of the City of Charlottesville to the western Albemarle County border. "30. 5. 7 .2 Regulation of number, height, area, types of signs a. Free-standing business and projecting business signs shall be limited to ten (10) feet in height above grade, eighteen (18) square feet per single sign face, and to one (1) sign per separate highway frontage. b. Business wall signs shall be limited to twenty (20) feet in height above grade, thirty-five (35) square feet per single sign face, and to one (1) sign per separate highway frontage. The applicant proposes to place a monument style sign five (5) feet from the right-of-way of Route 250 west. Sign material will be tan dryvit (stucco finish) on a brick base with 10 inch raised letters, which are brick red in color. The sign will be approximately 5 feet in height. This sign will be indirectly lighted by means of ground mounted lamps. The applicant also proposes to provide each of the 32 possible tenants with a maximum wall sign of 16 square feet each. Wall sign material will be flexface vinyl or wood and uniform in size, color and character. Page 2 Staff Report - VA-90-58 Applicant's justification for request: 1. Of the 32 signs, maximum, to be used on the building, a total number of 12 will be the maximum visible from Highway 250. 2 . Maximum numbers reflect the total number of leasable spaces. In the event that more than one of the spaces is leased to the same tenant for the same business, one sign will be allocated to that business, thus reducing the total number of signs. 3 . Maximum size of letters will be 12 inches. Total space for the sign name or text to appear will be 12 inches high by 84 inches long. 4 . All signs are to be uniform in size, color and character. The colors are to match the color of the building and are to be in a style which is simple and compatible with the architecture. 5. The identification sign at the entrance to the property will be of a style and character that ties in with the architecture of the buildings. It is our intent to demonstrate a conservative theme. It is called to your attention that the sign is smaller and less colorful than the signs of adjacent sites. 6. In discussion and review of the terms of proposed ordinance changes, it is called to your attention the requested variances will meet the intent of those changes, if approved. RELEVANT HISTORY: Staff recognizes that each variance is reviewed on its own merits, and is not on its face, precedent-setting. The following is provided for information: 1) On Sept. 13, 1988 VA-88-11 was approved for Mr. Benjamin Boyajian on the adjacent property to increase the square footage of freetstanding signs to 160 square feet, 10 feet from the right-of-way of Route 250. This variance also increased the number and size of wall signs to 25 feet per individual user. Page 3 Staff Report - VA-90-58 2) On November 14, 1989 VA-89-86 was approved for Whiting Oil Company (University Shell) to increase the square footage of freestanding signs to 110 square feet and for the existing freestanding sign to remain located two (2) feet from the right-of-way of Route 250. The variance was granted with conditions that the applicant has to remove all other non-conforming freestanding signs and non-conforming wall signs that exist on the site. RECOMMENDATION: The staff proposes to amend the sign ordinance for the scenic highways, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors as follows: a) Freestanding signs to be monument or pedestal style identifying the site only. Thirty-two (32) square feet of maximum sign area; six (6) to eight (8) foot maximum height limit. Sign materials shall be predominantly natural materials such as wood rock, brick, slate, soapstone and textured masonry finishes. b) Wall signs shall be calculated by allowing three quarters (3/4) of a square foot to one (1) linear foot of business wall front- age tenant. The maximum wall sign per tenant may not exceed thirty-five (35) square feet. Signs shall be uniform in material, color and character and be compatible with the architecture of the building and site. All signs for the scenic areas shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of Planning as to their location, configuration, design, materials and color. The applicant's proposal for a freestanding sign will meet the criteria that is being proposed for the scenic area at this time. The applicant's request for wall signage will be less than the square footage that is being recommended for the scenic areas. The sign materials, color and style are in keeping with the architectural integrity of the site and have been approved by the Director of Planning. Therefore, staff recommends approval for cause.