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Home My WebLink AboutSP202200016 Presentation 2022-08-02Applicant's Proposal & Site Background • Charlottesville Catholic School is petitioning the Board of Zoning Appeals for approval of a special use permit for an electric message sign along Pen Park Road, in accordance with Section 4.15.7(d) of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance. Electric Message Signs • County Code518-4.15.7 permits electric message signs (EMS) only by special use permit. County Code518-3 gives the following definition: • Electric message sign. The term "electric message sign"means a sign on which the copy can be changed or altered by electric, electro-mechanical, or electronic means. • The basis for this special use permit requirement is as follows: • a) an EMS can be distracting to the traveling public and may not be appropriate in all locations, and/or • b) an EMS may be most appropriate when conditions are applied to the use. As an example of location considerations, an EMS at a major intersection, where traffic may be stopped by a signal, might be less distracting than on a high-speed, high volume stretch of road without a signal stopping traffic. Without conditions, an EMS could potentially have flashing multi -color display or could even be a video. Either of these displays could cause saturation and confusion in the field of vision and impact general public safety. SP2022-16 Charlottesville Catholic School Electric Message Sign 61 -1 (4!j 62F-02--7 62F02--6 62D-07<OE-7 �• n 1223 6 708 61-170 p101. A . P enp Park Rd? c 712 716 rt- 61A-39 L'- �' 61 A-5C, �1151 61-173A t ¢1149761A-40 1 11651155 J < --.1Q 1191 I "' / � m l b �-C 1 Q 61-179 c 6701 61-180A 61A_03--A! I 61A-29 / I 03--1 1205 r! 61A 115 615 61A-25 \ 4 SP2022-16 Charlottesville Catholic School Electric 62F-02--7 67F a2 6 62D 07'0 3 o L �- 62007 A�9°� s1-170 61-173A I a V"=0 % MAY - 61A-39 61A-40 ¢ 61A-42 61A-32 w m i 61-179 61-180A -03-- 4.03--1 61A-29 L PEN PARK f CITY OF /CHARLOTTESVILLE C 61A-39 81 A•40 Q ro m 61A-32 ^• M I1A-42 e m ro �o 61A80A Hcph6ahood 2 -Places 29 Canp Plan Area 4 03--1 SP2022-16 Charlottesville Catholic School 10 Applicant's Proposal & Site Background •The proposed sign • is a replacement of an existing changeable message sign • is approximately 24.0 square feet in size (6ft x 4ft) • is approximately 13.2 square feet of electric message signage • will comply with the sign regulations in terms of size, height, and setback. • The existing freestanding sign was approved in 2oo6. Scale: 1" = 1' EXISTING SIGN 6' Wide X 4' Tall Base is 8'L X 16" T X 12" D •BLACK o WMITE • BLUE (Panto.. 2%) OYELLOW IPM... Y.Ilax( •LIGHT GRAY (Penton. 4n) � r LOGO PROPOSED SIGN 6' Wide X 4' Tall Base is 8'L X 16" T X 12" D 24 Sq. Ft. 24 Sq. Ft. Single Sided, Front -Lit Acrylic with Translucent Vinyl Graphics e 1 t r Double Sided (2nd Side Only Visible to School) 14 Special Use Permit Criteria - Under County Code § 18-34.5(i), the general criteria for review of a special use permit by the BZA are as follows: i. Factors to be considered when acting. The board shall reasonably consider the following factors when it is reviewing and acting on a special use permit: 1. No substantial detriment. Whether the proposed special use will be a substantial detriment to adjacent parcels. 2. Character of the nearby area is unchanged. Whether the character of the adjacent parcels and the nearby area will be changed by the proposed special use. 3. Harmony. Whether the proposed special use will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of this chapter, with the uses permitted by right in the district, with the applicable provisions of section 5, and with the public health, safety, and general welfare (including equity). 4. Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. Whether the proposed special use will be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Staff Recommendation and Conditions Staff believes that this proposal satisfies the goals of the sign regulations and the criteria for issuance of a special use permit subject and recommends approval of this request, with the following conditions: 1. The property is limited to one (1) freestanding electric message sign no more than 24 square feet in the location, as shown in Attachment B. 2. The sign message must not change more than four times per hour. Each message must display for a minimum of 15 minutes. 3. Content may not blink, flash, scroll vertically or horizontally, or display animation or movement of any kind. 4. Content may change only through an immediate transition that does not have the appearance of moving text or images. s. Illumination of the electric message sign& may not exceed a maximum luminance level of 300 Nits during nighttime hours. 6. Illumination of the electric message sign-s may not exceed a maximum luminance level of 51000 Nits during daylight daytime hours. Staff Recommendation and Conditions Staff believes that this proposal satisfies the goals of the sign regulations and the criteria for issuance of a special use permit subject and recommends approval of this request, with the following conditions: 1. The property is limited to one (1) freestanding electric message sign no more than 24 square feet in the location, as shown in Attachment B. 2. The sign message must not change more than four times per hour. Each message must display for a minimum of 15 seconds. 3. Content may not blink, flash, scroll vertically or horizontally, or display animation or movement of any kind. 4. Content may change only through an immediate transition that does not have the appearance of moving text or images. s. Illumination of the electric message sign& may not exceed a maximum luminance level of 300 Nits after 9 p.m. 6. Illumination of the electric message sign& may not exceed a maximum luminance level of 51000 Nits between 6a.m. and 8 p.m. Staff Recommendation and Conditions Staff believes that this proposal satisfies the goals of the sign regulations and the criteria for issuance of a special use permit subject and recommends approval of this request, with the following conditions: 1. The property is limited to one (1) freestanding electric message sign no more than 24 square feet in the location, as shown in Attachment B. 2. Each message must display for a minimum of 15 seconds. 3. Content may not blink, flash, scroll vertically or horizontally, or display animation or movement of any kind. 4. Content may change only through an immediate transition that does not have the appearance of moving text or images. s. The electric message sign must not exceed a maximum luminance level of 300 Nits between sunset and 9 p.m. 6. The electric message sign must not exceed a maximum luminance level of 5,000 Nits between 6 a.m. and sunset. 7. The electric message sign must be dark between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Questions? 9ZA Motion 1. 1 move to approve SP2022-00016 subject to the conditions a. in the staff report and amended in the presentation. Or b. as amended in the presentation. 2. 1 move to deny SP2022-00016 due to the following: (Lists reasons for denial) • A nit is the unit of measurement that describes how bright a television, smartphone, computer monitor, laptop screen, or another type of display is. The higher the number of nits, the brighter the display. • The official term is actually "candela per square meter" (cd/m2) 1'500 nits 2'50.0 nits 3'000 nits High Bright DKyr�aScan ; DynaScan Display D'S47LT4 ' DS46LO4 5'000 nits DynaS A 0 Sign Ordinance • County Code §i8-4.15.s explains the purpose and intent of the County's sign ordinance generally: • Therefore, the purpose of this section 4.15 is to establish reasonable regulations pertaining to the time, place, and manner in which outdoor signs and window signs maybe erected and maintained in order to: • 1. Preserve the rights of free speech and expression; • 2. Promote the general health, safety and welfare, including the creation of an attractive and harmonious environment; • 3. Protect the public investment in the creation, maintenance, safety, and appearance of its streets, highways, and other areas open to the public; • 4. Improve vehicular and pedestrian safety by avoiding saturation and confusion in the field of vision and by directing and controlling vehicular traffic and pedestrians • ,5. Protect and enhance the county's attractiveness to tourists and other visitors as sources of economic development; and • 6. Protect property values. Because there is not more specific legislative guidance for reviews of EMS special use permits, staff is sharing this legislative intent and wilralso use the general guidelines for review of a special use permit. EMS special permit criteria may be addressed in a future zoning text amendment to provide additional clarity and predictability.