HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP201100016 Staff Report 2011-09-13STAFF PERSON: Stewart Wright
PUBLIC HEARING: September 13, 2011
STAFF REPORT: SP201100016 — Clifton Inn Off -Site Sign
PETITION: Country Inns Extraordinaire Inc (property owner) and Hightech Signs
(applicant) petition the Board of Zoning Appeals to issue a special use permit for an off -
site advertising sign in accordance with Section 4.15.5(a)(1) of the Albemarle County
Zoning Ordinance. The property is zoned RA, Rural Areas and EC, Entrance Corridor.
APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL: The applicant is requesting approval for a freestanding
monument sign on tax map 79, parcel 24BO to serve as a directional sign to the Clifton
Inn located on parcel 79-23B. The off- site monument sign will be approximately 24
square feet.
CHARACTER OF THE AREA: This site is located on a rural two-lane road. Stone
Robinson Elementary School is located across the street. The house at Collina Farm is
the only visible dwelling on this road.
REASON FOR REVIEW: Section 4.15.5 provides that off -site advertising signs are
permitted by special use permit in any underlying district. The authority to administer
signs by special use permit is granted to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Among other
considerations, the Board must "find that the issuance of a special use permit is
necessary because an on -site sign would be ineffective to communicate its message
off -site because of topography or vegetation."
PLANNING AND ZONING HISTORY: An Accessory Tourist Lodging permit was
approved in 2005 to allow a bed and breakfast to be established at Collina Farm.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: The Comprehensive Plan defines this area as Rural Areas.
STAFF COMMENT:
The Sign ordinance provides specific criteria for the consideration of a special use
permit for an off -site sign as follows:
Section 4.15.5
C. Procedure and administration. The application procedure, the findings and
conditions to be applied by the board of zoning appeals when considering an
application for a special use permit, and the authority to revoke such a permit,
shall be as provided in section 31.6 of this chapter. In addition to the foregoing:
1. For an off -site sign, the board of zoning appeals shall also find that the
issuance of a special use permit is necessary because an on -site sign
would be ineffective to communicate its message off -site because of
topography or vegetation.
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial of this special use
permit because it does not meet the criteria.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A — Map of Proposed Sign Location
Attachment B — Topographical Map of Proposed Sign Location Area
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