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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199500014 Plan - Approved 1995-11-07 OF A ' _ - • ly �P COUNTY OF ALBEMARLE Department of Zoning 401 Mclntire Road Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-4596 (804) 296-5875 FAX (804) 972-4060 November 8, 1995 TDD (804) 972-4012 Michael D. Stoneking P. O. Box 1332 Charlottesville, VA 22902 RE: Board of Zoning Appeals Action VA-95-14, Tax Map 045, Parcel 104A Dear Mr. Stoneking: This letter is to inform you that on November 7, 1995, during the meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board unanimously (3:0) approved your request for VA-95-14 as submitted. This variance approval allows relief from Section 4.15.12.5 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance to increase the height of a wall sign from 20 feet to 28 feet. Anyone aggrieved by a decision made by the Board can appeal the decision to the Circuit Court of Albemarle County within thirty days of the decision. If you have any questions, please contact our office. Sincerely, Sp/A•v-‘1-(-- Jan Sprinkle Zoning Assistant AGM/st cc: VA-95-14 File Blue Ridge Health Alliance (Qual-Choice) Ryder Enterprises Sign Permit #S-95-88 1 STAFF PERSON: Jan Sprinkle PUBLIC HEARING: November 7, 1995 STAFF REPORT VA-95-14 OWNER/APPLICANT: Blue Ridge Health Alliance (Qual-Choice) TAX MAP/PARCEL: 45-104A ZONING: C-1 , Commercial ACREAGE: 2.04 acres LOCATION: The east side of Rt. 29, 0.4 mile north of its intersection with Rio Road. REQUEST: The applicant requests relief from Section 4.15.12.5 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance, which states: "Wall signs, maximum height 20 feet". The applicant seeks a variance to increase the height of a wall sign from 20 feet to 28 feet. This is a variance of 8 feet. The sign is currently displayed at 28 feet. It is internally illuminated, has channel letters, and is 34.02 square feet. The applicant's justification includes the following: Hardship The original intention was to locate this sign at the spandrel between the first and second floor. This would have satisfied the height limit. When the installer attempted to attach the sign at the lower spandrel, a steel beam was encountered. The anchorage system employed was not compatible with a steel beam substrate. Drilling into the beam would be required. Compromising the structure was deemed ill advised. The upper location did not require drilling a structural member. Uniqueness of Hardship - We have no information on other buildings in the area where the structural system makes fastening a sign difficult. - Qual Choice is a second floor tenant. With the sign located above their storey, the correct identity is established. Should the sign be located between floors it would be difficult to ascertain whether it referred to the lower level tenant or the upper. STAFF REPORT - VA-95-14 Page 2 Character of the Area - The previous sign was near in height above grade as the current Qual Choice sign. This situation is very similar to the previous tenant's sign which has been removed. - This sign is smaller than the maximum allowed by the ordinance. Qual Choice could install a larger sign at the lower location without a variance. It could be argued that a larger sign would have a more detrimental effect than a higher, smaller one. Qual Choice would waive any right to additional signage should the variance allowing the higher location be granted. RELEVANT HISTORY: On January 10, 1989, the Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance request to reduce the setback for a free-standing sign from 30 feet to 5 feet but denied a request to increase the area of the sign from 50 to 60 square feet for the previous tenant, Floor Fashions of Virginia. In 1993 and 1994 the Board of Zoning Appeals granted variances in the Ablemarle Square Shopping Center (Circuit City), Shoppers World (Katies, Staples) and Branchlands (Toys R Us) to increase the height of wall signs from 20 feet to 30 feet. STAFF COMMENT AND RECOMMENDATION: Staff is working towards some minor changes in the sign ordinance to define terminology and further fine tune it. One of the proposed changes (subject to Board of Supervisors' approval) will be to allow wall signs in our commercial zoning districts to return to the original 30-foot height limit. The 20-foot height limit currently listed for wall signs was adopted with the July 8, 1992 sign ordinance amendments. The Architectural Review Board has already given administrative approval for this wall sign. There should be no change to the character of the area nor detriment to the adjacent properties as other wall signs (at nearby Woodbrook and The Gardens) are 30 feet in height. Furthermore, wall signs at both Fashion Square Mall and Rio Hill Shopping Center were established with a 30-foot height limit. STAFF REPORT - VA-95-14 Page 3 Staff recommends approval for cause: 1)The applicant has provided evidence that the strict application of the ordinance would produce undue hardship; Strict application of the ordinance will unreasonably restrict the property since the applicant cannot install a wall sign at the required height due to the structure of the building. The 30-foot wall height requirement will meet the purpose and intent of the ordinance that previously existed and that will be recommended by staff in our pending ordinance revisions. The error in height of wall signs currently listed in the ordinance may be viewed as 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 Woodbrook and The Gardens, Albemarle Square, Shoppers World and Rio Hills shopping centers range in height up to 30 feet. Approval of the recommended changes and correction to the sign ordinance will continue to allow wall signs at a 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 that approval of the variance to allow a 28-foot height for this sign will be in keeping with the same 30-foot height limitation on all wall signs should the changes to the sign ordinance be approved by the Board of Supervisors. Therefore, there will be no change to the character of the district nor detriment to adjacent property. "- rii Ot ( ''''.- ,4'' Id I ':Ss,-, r .✓r 70 4F, 18D 4 Asa r, ==�_= `�- ,\X i 10 A - r, ,d, -,. ea ,.. ._. * .i: 46 h., �\ �� i �• ' ~ . \ r a + �`TTE4Y L1_E • ������ E ..f� \�a/ //�I 4 � C - `.' 'y 666Y ilf� o n 3 ti a 4 . • • - ,,' s' ^,' �� A. ^may, y� i ,hy Li�" VII ...--... ar - '' tt' . ."' ...'''';;;74fil j:irt °'- \ ` ._w _ ,;;:-. a .r'•• ..:• y.-��l---: .. 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