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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199200004 Action Letter 1992-04-15 OF A `�RGtNtP COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 April 15, 1992 Kurt Wassenaar AIA 619 East High Street Charlottesville, VA 22906 RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action VA-92-04 Tax Map 45, Parcel 68C1 Dear Mr. Wassenaar: This letter is to inform you that on April 14, 1992, during the meeting of-the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board (4: 0) (Kennedy abstained) ruled to approve your request for VA-92-04 as requested subject to the color of the sign being approved by the Design Planner. This variance approval allows relief from Section 30. 6.5.2 (c) to increase the area of wall signs from 35 to 92 square feet. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sin erel John Grady Deputy Zoning Administrator JG/st cc: Better Living, Inc. JG/st cc: File STAFF PERSON: John Grady PUBLIC HEARING: April 14, 1992 STAFF REPORT - VA-92-04 OWNER/APPLICANT: Better Living, Inc. TAX MAP/PARCEL: 45/68C1 ZONING: Highway Commercial ACREAGE: 5. 00 acres LOCATION: Located on the west side of Route 29, approximately one and half miles north of Rio Road and Route 29 intersection. REQUEST: The applicant requests relief from Section 30. 6.5.2 (c) of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, which limits business wall signs to thirty-five (35) square feet per single sign face, and to one (1) sign per separate highway frontage. In order to have five (5) wall signs measuring 6, 9, 10, 11 and 58 square feet respectively, the applicant requests a fifty-seven (57) square foot variance from the Entrance Corridor regulations. The applicant proposes to remove the six (6) existing signs and replace the same with five larger signs. This request will bring the aggregate area of wall signs to ninety-two (92) square feet. This site has only one frontage on Route 29 North; therefore, only one wall sign would be allowed under the entrance corridor regulations. Staff is also recommending that only one wall sign be allowed in the proposed sign regulations should they be approved. The proposed signs will be plastic or wood channel letters painted white and mounted on a red background. The applicant's justification includes the following: 1) The renovation of the exterior facade and the replacement and consolidation of signs will be a significant aesthetic improvement. 2) The applicant will be under a severe hardship if he is not allowed to replace and consolidate existing signage with updated and appropriate signage for his business. 3) Since the proposed facade renovation and signage replacement is intended to improve the aesthetics of the store and is within the spirit of the overlay district guidelines, we feel that a significant overall improvement in the appearance of the store will result and that the applicant should not face a business hardship as a result of attempting to improve the aesthetics of his business. Staff Report - VA-92-04 Better Living Page 2 RELEVANT HISTORY: Staff recognizes that each variance is reviewed on its own merits, and is not on its face, precedent-setting. The following history is provided for information: Better Living, Inc. presented its requests for signage to the Architectural Review Board on April 6, 1992 . The Architectural Review Board will issue a Certificate of Appropriateness for the signage on this site subject to the Board of Zoning Appeals granting a variance and the applicant meeting the following conditions: 1) Site shall be limited to only one wall sign. 2) Wall sign shall be limited to fifty-eight (58) square feet. RECOMMENDATION: Wall signage at this site is currently non-conforming in total sign area and number of signs. There are currently six (6) wall signs located on the front of the building totalling fifty (50) square feet. Under the current regulations the applicant may repair and maintain the existing signage. To remove the signs and replace them with larger signs the applicant must conform to the current regulations of the Entrance Corridor. Staff could support a request that is more in line with the sign regulations that are being proposed. If the applicant would remove the existing wall signs, staff could support the request to replace the fifty-eight (58) square foot Better Living sign on the facade. However, staff cannot support a request to enlarge the existing signage that would be contrary to the intent of the Entrance Corridor, and sufficient signage is available with the one (1) larger sign. The applicant has not proven a hardship in being allowed one (1) sign at fifty-eight (58) square feet without the five (5) additional small signs. Staff recommends denial for cause: 1) The applicant has not provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship; 2) The applicant has not provided evidence that such hardship is not shared generally by other properties in the same zoning district and the same vicinity; Staff Report - VA-92-04 Better Living Page 3 3) The applicant has not 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. Should the Board find cause for approval, staff recommends the following conditions of approval: 1) Site shall be limited to only one wall sign. 2) Wall sign shall be limited to fifty-eight (58) square feet.