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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199300017 Action Letter 1993-06-09 OF A (1.41111.4p.cl COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22901-4596 (804) 296-5875 June 09, 1993 Ron Bowles Advance Stores Co., Inc. 1342 8th Street, S.W. Roanoke, VA 24015 RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action, VA-93-17 Advance Store at Shoppers World Tax Map 61M, Parcel 12-1 C Dear Mr. Bowles: This letter is to inform you that on June 08, 1993, during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board unanimously (5:0) approved your request for VA-93-17. This variance approval allows relief from Section 4.15.12.6 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to increase the height of a wall sign from twenty (20) to thirty (30) feet. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sincerely, .jL.. 620- John Grady Deputy Zoning Administrator JG/sp cc: Inspections STAFF PERSON: John Grady PUBLIC HEARING: June 8, 1993 STAFF REPORT - VA-93-17 OWNER/APPLICANT: Charlottesville Shoppers World/Advance Stores Co., Inc. TAX MAP/PARCEL: 61 M/12-1 C ZONING: Planned Development Shopping Center ACREAGE: 12.558 acres LOCATION: On the northwest quadrant of Route 29 and Dominion Drive, known as Charlottesville Shoppers World Shopping Center. REQUEST: The applicant proposes to erect a thirty (30) foot tall wall sign at the recently vacated Toys for Tots space in Charlottesville Shoppers World Shopping Center. Section 4.15.12.6 of the ordinance requires wall signs to be no higher than twenty (20) feet above grade. The applicant seeks relief to allow a wall sign to be erected thirty (30) feet above grade, a variance of ten (10) feet. The proposed sign is one hundred and twenty (120) square feet in size with white channel letters and red logo. APPLICANT'S JUSTIFICATION: The applicant's justification includes: 1) Erecting the sign at twenty (20) feet would require placing the sign between two brick columns and making it susceptible to vandalism. 2) Other shopping center tenants such as Katie's and T.J's have received variances to allow wall signs at a thirty (30) foot height on this building's facade. 3) A variance to allow the thirty (30) foot wall sign will maintain the continuity of wall signs with other tenants in this building. HISTORY: On October 13, 1992, variances were granted for T.J.'s and Katie's in Charlottesville Shoppers World Shopping Center to erect wall signs at a thirty-five 401 foot height above grade. STAFF REPORT - VA-93-17 Page 2 RECOMMENDATION: The Advance Store sign application has been reviewed by the Design Planner for the Architectural Review Board and has met the requirements for style, color and copy. In an effort to further define some terminology and correct some applications in the existing sign ordinance, staff will be recommending some minor changes this year. One of the changes subject to the Board of Supervisors approval, will be to allow wall signs back to the original thirty (30) foot height limit. The twenty (20) foot height limit currently listed for wall signs appears to be a typo that was undetected by staff in its review of the new sign ordinance. Staff recommends approval for cause: 1) The applicant has provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship. The applicant will meet the thirty (30) foot wall height requirement that will be recommended by staff. The error in height of wall signs currently listed in the ordinance is a hardship for the applicant in this case. 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. Currently wall signs at Rio Hills, Albemarle Square, Fashion Square and Shoppers World range in height up to thirty (30) feet. Approval of the recommended changes to the sign ordinance will continue to allow wall signs at a thirty (30) foot height limit. 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. Staff agrees with the applicant that lowering the proposed sign would create a misalignment with the remaining wall signs in this shopping center. Furthermore, approval of the recommended changes to the sign ordinance will place the same thirty (30) foot height limitation on all wall signs. Therefore, there will be no change to the character of the district nor detriment to adjacent property.