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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199100023 Action Letter 1991-07-09 ,l o\A1414.1 O �� JG J®,�4 COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 July 10, 1991 Steve Johnson Architectural Graphics, Inc. 2655 International Parkway P. O. Box 9175 Virginia Beach, VA 23450 RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action Marriott Corporation (Colonnades) Tax Map 60, Parcel 24E Dear Mr. Johnson: This letter is to inform you that on July 09, 1991, during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board approved your request for VA-91-23 , subject the following conditions: 1. Details of signs shall be as shown on Sheets 5 through 11 of the description submitted by Architectural Graphics, Inc. , dated February 2 , 1991. 2 . Present temporary sign be removed upon replacement of the permanent sign. This variance approval allows relief from Section 3 . 0 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to increase the size of six directional signs from 4 to 10 square feet each and to increase the size of one (1) directional sign from 4 to 32 square feet. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sincerely, Babette Thorpe Zoning Assistant BT/sp cc: UREF Retirement Corportion STAFF PERSON: Babette Thorpe PUBLIC HEARING: 7/9/91 STAFF REPORT - VA-91-23 OWNER/APPLICANT: Mariott Corporation TAX MAP/PARCEL: 60-24E ZONING: PRD, Planned Residential Development ACREAGE: 58.910 LOCATION: South side of Route 654, Barracks Road, one- half mile west of its intersection with Route 250 Bypass. REQUEST: The applicant requests relief from Section 3 . 0 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, which states: Sign, Directional: A sign, one end of which is pointed, on which an arrow is painted or otherwise indicates the direction to which attention is called, not illuminated, four (4) square feet or less in area, giving the name only of a person(s) , farm, business or other establishment. The applicant requests variances to increase the size of: 1) one directional sign from four to 32 square feet, a variance of 28 square feet, and 2) six directional signs from four to ten square feet each, a variance of six square feet for each sign, or 36 square feet total. The applicant' s justification includes the following: 1. The Colonnades is a heavily wooded, campus-style retirement community covering over 50 acres. There are five major buildings and 40 cottages on the site. Ample directional signage is needed to guide residents, guests, prospective clients and emergency vehicles quickly and efficiently through this complex site. 2 . The clientele of the Colonnades is the elderly, which makes ample, readable directional signs a necessity. 3 . The six small directional signs would not be visible from Barracks Road. The proposed 32-square foot sign would be difficult to see from Barracks Road, due to landscaping and the walled entrance. RELEVANT HISTORY: On November 13 , 1990, the Board of Zoning Appeals approved VA-90-70, which allowed Westminster-Canterbury to increase the size of two directional signs to 25 square feet each and three directional signs to nine square feet each. RECOMMENDATION: Staff agrees with the applicant that the size and complexity of the Colonnades will make it difficult for visitors and emergency personnel to find their way quickly, unless adequate signage is posted. The amount of square footage requested for each sign seems reasonable, given the amount of information and the size lettering needed to give clear directions to visitors. None of the signs is designed to attract attention from Barracks Road: the 32-square foot sign would be almost completely screened by the wall and landscaping and the smaller signs would not be visible from Barracks Road or adjacent properties. The larger sign, since it is visible, albeit barely, from an entrance corridor, will require a certificate of appropriateness from the Architectural Review Board (ARB) . The ARB will review this sign on July 8, 1991. Staff recommends approval for cause: 1. The applicant has provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship. Applying the ordinance strictly and holding the applicant to a directional sign of four square feet for such a complex site would result in a sign that is difficult to see and even more difficult to read, which could confuse visitors and delay emergency vehicles. 2 . The applicant has provided evidence that such hardship is not shared generally by other properties in the same zoning district and the same vicinity. The nature of this use, a retirement village and health care center for the elderly, distinguishes this use from others in the same zoning district and same vicinity, necessitating larger, more readable directional signage. 3 . The applicant has provided evidence that the authorization of such variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property and that the character of the district will not be changed by the granting of the variance. The smaller directional signs would not be visible from Barracks Road or adjacent property; the larger sign would be barely visible from Barracks Road only, due to proposed landscaping and the walled entrance. Should the Board find cause for approval, staff recommends the following conditions: 1. Details of signs shall be as shown on Sheets 5 through 11 of the description submitted by Architectural Graphics, Inc. , dated February 2 , 1991.