HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199700015 Review Comments 1997-09-29 •
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BZA MTG - LOWE'S REHEARING
Grounds for rehearing based on by-laws:
a) New evidence which is pertinent and could not have been presented at the
original hearing; or
b) Change in condition or situation which has a bearing on the decision.
Provide basis for rehearing:
a) New evidence
The basis for the approval by the BZA took a direction that staff had not anticipated
and was not prepared to address-
(1) One of the 3 reasons cited for supporting the variance was the fact that
the Board has had previous requests for large structures. At the mtg, staff was
unable to provide info to the Bd; we could not recall similar requests and had not
done research on this. Staff has done research which is critically relevant.
The info we have found shows that there have been no brand new wall signs
approved (by ordinance or variance), which exceed 200 sq ft. There were
numerous variances under the prior sign regs, but they were rewritten to allow each
business to have signage. There have been no variances in wall sign size in any
commercial districts since 1992, when the current sign ord was adopted. Wall sign
variances include these following at Fashion Square for the anchor stores:
Sears - (274 ft frontage) 4 wall signs with an aggregate area of 400 sq ft and no
individual sign to exceed 200 sq ft;
Miller&Rhoads - 3 wall signs at 189 sq ft each;
J.C. Penney - 5 wall signs with an aggregate area of 560 sq ft and no individual sign
to exceed 200 sq ft;
Leggett - (361 ft frontage) 3 wall signs at 198 sq ft each.
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Page 2
Lowe's Rehearing VA 97-15
BZA Mtg
September 30, 1997
(2) A related reason for the approval of this variance was a consideration that this
is a large building and that the ordinance does not provide for this situation.
Research by staff found the following:
Sam's Club - (308 ft frontage) signs do not exceed 142 sq ft;
WalMart - (380 ft frontage Rt 29) signs do not exceed 200 sq ft;
Roses - (290 ft frontage) sign of 146 sq ft;
Food Lion at Pantops - (268 ft frontage) signs do not exceed 200 sq ft;
Toys R Us - (202 ft frontage Rt 29 and 235 ft frontage Branchlands Blvd) sign does
not exceed 200 sq ft;
State Farm Insurance - (720 ft frontage) has no wall signage;
ACAC proposed at Albemarle Sq - proposed signage will not exceed 200 sq ft;
This is basis for rehearing under b.
b) Change in condition
Since the variance was approved, staff has been approached by Krispy Kreme
regarding proposed signage.
This is significant because it runs counter to one of the arguments the applicant
made for approval. They indicated that because this is not a strip mall with other
businesses, there would be limited signage. They also indicated that this add'! sign
area was important for Lowe's parking lot to function.
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