03-14-2018 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Keis and Members of the City Council FROM: Jessica Jagoe, Associate Planner DATE: March 9, 2018 RE: Suite Living - Comprehensive Sign Plan Additional Information Suite Living and Hampton Companies have submitted the revised site plans as requested by city staff. From the planning perspective, the outstanding items pertained to the Comprehensive Sign Plan review. The Applicant has reduced the number of signs requested to two at the recommendation of staff. However, they are seeking approval for a pylon freestanding sign versus a monument design. The Architectural Guidelines for the Rice Street/Little Canada Road area specify freestanding signs shall be limited to “monument type” and vertical signs may be considered only where it is shown the sign coordinates with the overall architectural theme. The Applicant has added design elements to the freestanding sign proposed that they feel creates a higher end product using some of the same building materials. Additionally, they’ve shown the pylon sign with uplighting, but included a backlit option. If the pylon sign is approved, the Council should specify which form of illumination is preferred. It should be noted that if the backlit sign is approved, city staff would require either the coloring be “reversed out” (i.e. dark background with light lettering) or the white background be opaque. The sign area proposed for the freestanding sign is 55 square feet. The Applicant has indicated the vertical sign is necessary for establishing their presence and visibility along Rice Street. With regards to the wall signage, the Applicant has removed the signage proposed from the west elevation. There will be only one wall sign on the north elevation, up to 25 square feet. The Applicant has shown overhead lighting (no internal illumination). They will be individually mounted letters, but at this time the lettering material is unknown. Guided by the R-3 zoning district, the property would be allowed one sign up to the 35 square feet, and no greater than six feet in height. Suite Living is requesting two signs up to a maximum of 80 square feet and to be allowed a freestanding sign at a height of 16 feet. Under the PUD District, the City Council does have the flexibility to allow the additional signage if it is determined to be consistent with the area and intent of the PUD by achieving a higher quality design. City staff believes the applicant has done a nice job in trying to achieve a complimentary look between the building and signage. However, the Architectural Guidelines call for the monument design which has been the more common shift for the City on newer developments. The pylon vertical design as proposed is more typical of an existing sign where we are trying to upgrade the appearance. Lastly, the monument design in Option #4 is proposed at six feet high which is consistent with the R-3 guided use for this PUD.