MINUTES OF THE
MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS,
WHICH TOOK PLACE
ON
AT 6:30 P.M., IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL,
1. ROLL
CALL
PRESENT: Board Members - Green, Holthof (late), Higgins, Lichtenwald, and Steele
ABSENT: Board Members - None
OTHERS PRESENT: Daryl Poprave, Deputy Director of Planning & Community Development, Debbie Marquardt, Technical Secretary, and 3 others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
It was moved by Higgins and supported by Green to approve the minutes of the August 15, 2006 meeting as corrected. Motion was unanimously approved.
Page 2 ZBA #06-10 wording changes: Fence is located on a retaining wall which varies in height from 2 feet to 8 feet in addition to the height of the existing fence which is 5 feet 9 inches in height.
Page 4 ZBA #06-11 make it say Battalion Chief John Haag requested rather than for.
Page 5, 4th paragraph last sentence 1200 sq. ft. detached garage which is in addition to the 140 square foot detached building that is on the property which makes it 1340 sq. ft.
Last page on decision sheet that a change is for petition 06-07 and the second one is 06-05. They are correct in the decision sheets.
Jon Steele stated that his first name was misspelled throughout the Minutes.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS
a. No.
06-13 – Advance Auto Parts for an
area/dimension variance to allow a ground signage increase to 108 square feet
at 1415 South Saginaw Road.
Daryl Poprave introduced petition request
#06-13 and stated that this variance was being requested to increase signage on
site. The store is currently under
construction on South Saginaw Road between Haley Street and Washington
Street. This site was previously a
restaurant. The property is located in
Regional Commercial zoning district and commercial zoning exists on both
sides. Advance Auto Parts was seeking
two signs and they would like to amend the petition back to one, 147 sq. ft.
wall sign and seek variance to allow a 108 square foot pylon sign.
Our ordinance counts gaps and the rectangle
on the outside edge. They were talking
about the pole sign, which is a 6’ x 18’ sign that will be set back 5 feet from
the property line.
Staff’s recommendation is to approve the 108
sq. ft. pylon ground sign. This request
is a lot more reasonable without the additional wall sign.
Shawn Smith, 6001 Nimtz Parkway, South Bend,
Indiana stated that Advance Auto Parts have amended their request to a minimal
request of 8 square feet. This is a
corner enter store and would typically have two building signs. They went into deliberations and with the setbacks
and the visibility are limited so they are just going to stay on Saginaw
Road. They are going to do 8 foot sign
setback. The proposed sign would fit in
well in the corridor and with the other signs.
The Ford Dealership has a total of 10 signs at that location. This building is set back 65 feet from the
right of way.
Higgins asked if they could make a 100 square
foot sign.
They would have to produce a new mold to make
a custom sign and that would be a price difference of $15,000 to $20,000.
Higgins asked the
petitioner to answer the five criteria.
The building design is the same throughout
the country. 15% of the community is in
motion. There are a lot of calculations
that go into the sign size.
The sign enhances the architecture of the
building and helps the motorists to find the property. It allows this property to meet its zone
potential.
This will provide advance notification to
motorists. It provides good quality
signage on the roadways itself.
Some may turn into the Big Boy and then come
across to the store. It will alleviate
traffic for them.
The view of the sign is limited. They are 65 feet setback from the property
line and there is an easement from the property line and road. There is accessibility from Wisconsin. This is less signage then Arby’s or the Ford
Dealership.
The setback is further than any other
property on that corridor.
Green asked if the standard sign meets the 3
to 1 ratio and would it be provided in a 75 square foot sign. There is a smaller sign size but they would
like to stay close to code.
Lichtenwald asked if the image is silk
screened on the sign and in the 108 sq. ft. version. Can the signs lettering be printed at any
height?
The petitioner stated that it is actually
molded in. Can they put a larger letter
set on the 15 feet? No it is all
designed. The standard sign is 18’ x
24’, but if they can’t they look at the 6’ by 18’ if they can get that. The letters cannot be increased. The sign is on the face but it is on the
mold. The sign design is based on what
it is.
The Chairman asked if there was anyone
present who wished to speak in favor of the petition, hearing none the Chairman
asked if there was anyone present who wished to speak in opposition to the
request. Hearing none the Chairman
closed the public hearing and directed the Board to enter into findings of fact
on petition 06-13.
Findings of Fact:
1.
The
property is zoned Regional Commercial.
2.
Speed
limit on S. Saginaw Road is 35 mph.
3.
One letter
was received in opposed to the original request.
4.
Petitioner
has changed the request to a 108 square foot sign and the wall sign will
conform to the Zoning Ordinance.
5.
The
building is set back 65 feet from S. Saginaw Road.
6.
There is
only one curb cut on S. Saginaw Road.
7.
That
there will be landscaping between the parking lot and Big Boy as required by
the Zoning Ordinance.
8.
The sign
has a standard cabinet of 6’ x 18’ (108 sq. ft.), which is the closest to
Midland’s Zoning Ordinance and the next standard size is 5’ x 15’ (75 sq. ft.).
9.
Petitioner
stated that a new custom sign would cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
It is moved by Higgins, seconded by
Green, to approve Petition No. 06-13 based on the findings of fact for a 108
square foot pylon sign at 1415 South Saginaw Road.
Higgins stated that they have an existing building right now on 400 South
Saginaw Road and it has a smaller sign.
It appears that the problem is self created. They could deal with a 75 square foot sign.
Holthof stated that there is a sign ordinance and 100 square feet is what
we should allow. Our ordinance can’t
dictate all sign sizes. They have met
the strict intent of the ordinance. The
word strict compliance is in that criterion.
Most of the adjoining property owners have greater signage.
Steele agrees with what was said.
Greene commented that they are located on S. Saginaw Road for traffic
flow. Strictly based on the criteria it
is one to take into consideration.
Lichtenwald can agree with some of the comments made so far. This would do justice to the applicant. It is just barely over the limit but he is
having a problem with not being able to comply with the Zoning Ordinance. The uniqueness of the property wasn’t
met. It doesn’t feel right.
Holthof stated that South Saginaw Road runs on an angle and that could be
an uniqueness and intersects at an angle.
There are trees along the out lawn.
Higgins stated that City Council wants the pole signs to be smaller.
Steele stated there is a differential from 25% under or 8% over.
Vote on the motion:
Green: No
Higgins: Yes
Holthof: Yes
Lichtenwald: No
Steele: Yes
The motion to approve the Amended Petition 06-13 was approved 3 - 2.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS (not related to items on the agenda)
None
5. OLD BUSINESS
None
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Set 2007 meeting dates – Print time for the calendars so they need formal action to approve. It was moved by Green and supported by Steele. Motion passes unanimously.
7. DECISION SHEET SIGNATURES
b. 06-07 review corrected copy
c. 06-08 review corrected copy
d. 06-09 review corrected copy
e. 06-10 approval of findings of fact
f. 06-11 approval of findings of fact – page 6 of minutes is right but there was an amendment requested that 140 square foot building removed and screening required in addition to the motion.
g. 06-12 approval of findings of fact
8. ADJOURNMENT.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting at
Respectfully submitted,
Daryl Poprave
Deputy Director of Planning & Community Development
DP/djm