07-13-2017 Planning Commission Packet

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STAFF REPORT TO: Planning Commission Members FROM: Jessica Jagoe, Associate Planner DATE: July 6, 2017 RE: Abbott Comprehensive Sign Plan PUD Amendment – One St. Jude Medical Way In 2007, St. Jude Medical now Abbott went through the PUD process for construction of a new building as part of their corporate campus at 1 St. Jude Medical Way. During this PUD process, St. Jude Medical requested and was approved four signs for this location under their Comprehensive Sign Plan. Those signs were one – 95 sq. ft. wall sign on north elevation, two – 55 sq. ft. signs at west access and service access, and one monument - 160 sq. ft. at the entrance along County Road B2. With the acquisition of St. Jude Medical by Abbott, Abbott is updating their signage to the new company logo and is requesting an amendment to the approved Comprehensive Sign Plan. Analysis Abbott is requesting consideration to allow for one wall sign measuring up to 191 square feet on the west elevation of the building. This would replace the wall sign that was originally approved on the north elevation which was never installed. The other three signs have been installed and updated with Abbott’s logo. The second part of Abbott’s PUD Amendment request is the location of the wall sign on the west elevation. The city code defines a wall sign as “A sign which is affixed to the exterior wall of a building and which is parallel to the building wall. A wall sign does not project more than twelve (12) inches from the surface to which it is attached, nor extend beyond the top of the parapet wall”. The proposed sign by Abbott is not affixed to the building, but rather to a screen wall that surrounds their mechanical equipment located on top of the building on the north elevation. This screen wall as explained by Abbott is part of the building from a construction standpoint because of how it is secured to the structure. This is a heavy material and should not be confused with a mesh screening material. Another factor to this location is that the height of this screen wall is in line with the height of the south portion of the building and looks architecturally like it is part of the building. For these reasons, Abbott is requesting as part of the PUD Amendment to be allowed a wall sign that is not affixed to building, but rather a screen wall that is secured to the building. Recommendation The PUD Zoning provides for the flexibility to allow signage to be mounted in a location other than where it is designated in our code. The screen wall proposed by Abbott architecturally appears to be part of the building because of the type of screening material used and how it is secured to the structure. Additionally, the request for a wall sign measuring up to 191 square feet in combination with the three existing signs is still within the 15% allowance for signage. Therefore, staff believes both requests by Abbott are consistent with the intent of the PUD District and the City’s Architectural Guidelines. Based on the above, city staff recommends approval of the PUD Amendment to the Comprehensive Sign Plan for Abbott at One St. Jude Medical Way to allow for a wall sign up to 191 square feet on the west elevation mounted to the screen wall surrounding the mechanical area.