10-11-2018 Planning Commission Packet

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STAFF REPORT TO: Planning Commission Members FROM: Jessica Jagoe, Associate Planner DATE: October 5, 2018 RE: 380 Little Canada Road – Signage Variance St. Johns Church of Little Canada at 380 Little Canada Road East is seeking a variance to allow two freestanding signs on their property. As the Commission will recall, the sign ordinance was amended in August to allow properties under the Public District the same amount of signage (i.e. sign area and number of signs) as allowed in the Commercial Districts. The Public District before the amendment was not specific to the number of signs that could be installed, but stated that the total sign area could not exceed 32 square feet. The two freestanding signs exist on the property today and have a combined 40 square feet of sign area. Prior to the amendment it was determined that the two freestanding signs are considered to be legal non-conforming signage (since they exceed 32 square feet of sign area). About the same time as the amendment was being considered, the Church had begun working with city staff on a sign permit to allow one of the freestanding signs along Little Canada Road to be upgraded. The freestanding sign to be upgraded has the manual reader board with stone columns. The upgrade will include replacing the manual reader board with an electronic message center, plus installation of a new cabinet on top. The Church will be using the existing stone monument columns since they are historic to the congregation. By using these historic columns, the Church is limited to how many square feet of sign area they can increase. However, given the signs are legal non-conforming this means they can replace the signs “as is”, but cannot increase the non-conforming –  903.010.B – Any non-conforming structure or use lawfully existing upon the effective date of this Ordinance shall not be enlarged, but may be continued at the size and in the manner of operation existing upon such date except as hereinafter specified or subsequently amended Under the old Public District standards, the non-conforming portion is exceeding 32 square feet of sign area. Therefore, they could have upgraded either freestanding sign, but the Church would have needed to stay at or below 40 square feet of sign area (combined between the two signs). The proposed signage is shown with a slightly smaller message center, but the top cabinet is larger due to visibility concerns. Overall, the sign area is approximately five (5) square feet larger than it exists today. Using the new Public District standards, the Church would be allowed to increase the sign area (Commercial Districts allow 15% of wall area), but this code provision is specific on the number of signs to be installed. A corner property is allowed one freestanding sign, plus one wall sign per street frontage. The code amendment has now shifted the legal non-conforming portion to be the number of freestanding signs (the sign area complies).