HomeMy WebLinkAboutVA199900029 Other 2000-06-06 STAFF PERSON: Jan Sprinkle
PUBLIC HEARING: June 6, 2000
STAFF REPORT VA-00-013
OWNER/APPLICANT: Woodbrook Associates, LLC, owner/applicant
TAX MAP/PARCEL: 45-109C (lot 2)
ZONING: C1
ACREAGE: 0.92
LOCATION: The northwest quadrant of the intersection of Woodbrook
and Berkmar Drives; middle building of the Woodbrook
Crossing Commercial Subdivision.
TECHNICAL REQUEST AND EXPLANATION: The applicant requests relief from
Section 4.15.12.5, Commercial District (C-1 and CO), which allows the maximum height
of a wall sign to be 20 feet. A variance of four feet is requested to allow a new wall sign
to be located at 24 feet above grade.
The sign will be composed of 12-inch high, individual reverse-channel, aluminum letters.
The entire sign is about 17 feet long. The letters of the sign are neon-lighted and will be
similar in appearance to those in Barracks Road Shopping Center. The sign is planned
for the east side of the building facing Berkmar Drive.
RELEVANT HISTORY: VA 99-29 by the same applicant for the same sign height
variance was denied on November 3, 1999. This parcel was subdivided in April 1998.
Various site plans have been approved to allow one building on each of the three lots in
this "Woodbrook Crossing" development. They share an entrance and parking area
accessed from Woodbrook Drive.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFYING CONDITIONS: This lot is
somewhat square in shape with a rectangular building. The two story, 14,000 square
foot building fronts on Berkmar Drive but has its entrance at the rear where the parking
is located.
STAFF ANALYSIS: Staff cannot find evidence of a hardship in this case. As stated in
the prior report, a wall sign could be located on the building at a lower height. Due to
the elevation of the building approximately 6 to 8 feet above the elevation of Berkmar
Drive, the sign at the 20-foot height would have excellent visibility. There is also a
freestanding sign identifying the building that is visible from both directions of travel
along Berkmar. The variance that was granted to Planet Fun was based in part on its
elevation somewhat below Berkmar Drive. The variance approval was conditioned so
that no freestanding sign is permitted if the wall sign is established at the 28-foot height.
Variance Report, VA 00-Li 2 June 6, 2000
APPLICANT'S JUSTIFICATION AND STAFF COMMENT: A review of the variance
criteria provided by the applicant and comments by staff follows:
Hardship
The applicant comments that the variance is necessary because:
• a knowledgeable Sign Maker recommended the most desirable location for the sign,
from the aesthetic and visibility viewpoint, was the center of the building immediately
below the gable facing onto Berkmar Drive;
• the Sign Maker assured the applicant that the Zoning Board and Zoning Officials
agreed that the height should have been established at 30 feet, and that an error in
the sign ordinance posed the hardship;
• numerous applicants have already been granted variances;
• the sign maker had two successful variance requests and the Zoning Department
had stated that the ordinance would be changed by November 1998;
• VA 99-29 was inequitably denied by the BZA to pressure the staff to speed up the
process of making the change in the ordinance; and,
• The building represents a considerable investment and locating the sign other than
the desired place detracts from the appearance and value of the building.
Staff cannot identify any hardship as described under the Code of Virginia relating to
granting a variance. There has been no change in circumstance since the prior
variance for this sign was denied.
1. The applicant has not provided evidence that the strict application of the
ordinance would produce undue hardship.
Uniqueness of Hardship
The applicant notes that:
• The UVA Credit Union and the Ikon building did not need to mount their signs higher
than 20 feet to get appropriate exposure of their signs;
• Two other nearby buildings did not need a height increase due to their architectural
design; and,
• Planet Fun has a variance.
Staff finds that the Barry Building is not unique. All properties in the same area and
zoning district must comply with the 20-foot height, and since this structure is sited at a
higher elevation than Berkmar Drive it has less need to have an elevated sign.
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.
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Variance Report, VA 00-i i 3 June 6, 2000
Impact on Character of the Area
The applicant states that:
• They went to a lot of trouble to assure that the building is the highest quality
construction and dignified design that would be an asset to the community;
• The sign is tasteful in design and is color coordinated with the building; and,
• The sign compliments the building's size and dignified looks and qualities.
Staff agrees that allowing the sign to be four feet higher will not change the character of
the district.
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 RECOMMENDATION: Since only one of the criteria has been met, staff
recommends denial. However, should the Board find cause for approval, staff
recommends the following condition (which is the same as that granted to
Adventureland, now Planet Fun, in VA 96-07):
1 .) No freestanding sign shall be allowed on this property.
1.IDEPTIBudding&ZoninglStaff Reports\VA2000-13.doc