Title
Conduct a Public hearing to Consider/Discuss/Act on the request by Owner Victoria Senior Homes LLC, to Consider/Discuss/Act on the Appeal of the Building Official’s decision for the consideration of a Meritorious Exception to the Sign Ordinance to allow a monument sign to be constructed without being framed in masonry, consisting of white wood columns with partial brick bases on the sides, topped with a white wood cross-beam, with a hanging sign panel, near the main entrance to the property located at 153 Enterprise Dr., Lot 2 of Block B of the Country Lane Addition to the City of McKinney, Texas
Summary:
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CASE NUMBER: BOA 24-04
MEETING DATE: June 26, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Development Services - Building Inspections
CONTACT: Suzanne Arnold, Chief Building Official
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Consider this Meritorious Exception request based on the applicant statement on the Board of Adjustment (acting as the Sign Board) application.
ZONING: PD 1999-01-09 Zoning Area 3, “O” Office, “O1” and all uses in BN/C1
EXISTING CONDITIONS: This lot is the site of the Victoria Senior Homes multi-family development, currently under construction.
ITEM SUMMARY: The applicant is seeking to construct a new monument sign, approximately 5 feet tall by 9.9 feet wide, near the front entry to the property. Ordinance requires that a monument sign have masonry all around it. In this proposal, only approximately half of each side column is brick. The rest of the sign is framed in white painted wood. The applicant cites consistency with the architecture and materials of the main building as a reason for this Meritorious Exception request. The applicant applied for sign permit SIGN2024-05-00354 on May 21, 2024, which was declined for nonconformity. The City received this application for a Meritorious Exception on May 22, 2024.
VARIANCE REQUESTED:
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SIGN ORDINANCE REQUIREMENTS |
VARIANCE REQUESTED |
VARIANCE |
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|
|
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Masonry on all sides of monument signs |
Half masonry columns |
Sign materials |
APPLICANT’S BASIS FOR VARIANCE: See description on the BOA application.
PUBLIC SUPPORT/OPPOSITION OF REQUEST: To date, no letters of support and no letters of opposition have been submitted.
BOARD AUTHORITY:
Unified Development Code 503(A): Meritorious Exceptions
1. Generally: Primary objectives of this section include ensuring the prohibition of signage that has low visual quality, while guarding against the over-regulation of signage.
2. Approval Criteria: It is not the intent of these regulations to discourage innovation. It is possible that signage proposals could be made that, while clearly nonconforming to the requirements of this Article, and thus not allowable under these regulations, have obvious merit in not only being appropriate to the particular site or location, but also in making a positive contribution to the visual environment. In such cases, the Chief Building Official may approve a meritorious exception, if the proposal meets any of the following:
a. The signage is creative, innovative, or otherwise visually appealing so as to result in a positive contribution to the built environment;
b. The signage contains an architectural element that positively supplements the visual environment;
c. The regulations of this section do not adequately describe or regulate the proposed signage;
d. The signage will promote a strong public interest, including but not limited to wayfinding and the positive identification of essential services; or
e. The relocation of allowed signage is necessary based on difficulties resulting from building design, orientation, or location.
3. Sign Board Consideration
a. The Chief Building Official, at their sole discretion, may refer the meritorious exception application to the Sign Board, for consideration and action.
b. The Chief Building Official may deny a meritorious exception if the proposed sign does not meet the criteria included in subsection 2 above. The applicant whose request was denied may appeal the decision of the Chief Building Official to the Sign Board, in accordance with the procedures outlined in §203F.1, Administrative Appeals
BUILDING OFFICIAL STATEMENT:
The request has been field validated and I agree that the Board has the implied authority to consider this Meritorious Exception by the Applicant/Owner.
SUPPORTING MATERIALS:
BOA 24-04 153 Enterprise Dr. - Packet to include:
• Ordinance Exhibit
• GIS map of subject property and surrounding houses and businesses
• Board of Adjustment (BOA) Application
• Proposed Plans and Elevations
• Site photos
• Newspaper notice and 200’ notice with Locator Map
• Power Point presentation to be delivered at hearing
ACTION: Approved Denied Tabled