CC PACKET 07222003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

45 MEMORANDUM DATE: 07/16/03 MEETING DATE: 07/22/03 TO: Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Susan M.H. Hall, Assistant City Manager SUBJECT: Northgate Office Park Sign Plan Requested Action: Northgate Office Park has submitted both a comprehensive sign plan and sign variance request for their proposed pylon sign. When a Comprehensive Sign Plan is presented, exceptions to the regulations of the sign ordinance may be permitted if the sign plan as a whole is in conformity with the intent of the ordinance. The City Manager has rejected the proposed sign plan under the comprehensive sign plan because Northgate's sign plan has deviated too far from the City's sign ordinance. Instead, the proposed sign plan will be looked at as a package of variance requests, as follows: (a) An 8 foot height variance to allow for a 16 foot sign; (b) A 10 foot setback variance to allow for a 5 foot setback from the driveway; (c) A variance of 16 square feet to allow for a sign surface area of 96 square feet for two copy surfaces; and (d) A variance for a pylon sign. July 15 was the public hearing for the above stated sign variance requests from the Northgate Office Park. Background: Northgate Office Park has proposed a pylon sign for the front of their building at 2500 Highway 88, so their tenants can have visibility. The proposed sign deviates from the City's sign ordinance in several ways. As the applicant pointed out in their variance application, the proposed sign is higher than what is allowed by city code. The maximum height of a ground sign (which is the standard the City will use) is 8 feet including the pedestal and any berming; the petitioners are proposing a.16-foot sign, thus the 8-foot variance request. The second variance the petitioners pointed out in their application is a variance for the setback from the driveway. The sign ordinance states sign must be located at least 15 feet from the driveway, in this case. The petitioners are proposing a setback of 5 feet from the driveway, thus the 10-foot setback variance request. The petitioner gives reasons why the above-mentioned variances are needed in their application letter (see attached). Upon staff's review of the proposed sign, there are additional variances that would be necessary to implement the sign permit for this application. In addition to the above, the proposed sign square footage is over the allowed square footage for a ground sign with two copy surfaces for buildings with two or more tenants. The maximum allowed is 80