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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA 1995-01-19 Minutes CAll TO ORDER ROll CAll CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF December 15, 1994 1. BA 94-32 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICH LAND HillS, TEXAS January 19, 1995 - 7:30 p.m. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tom Duer at 7:30 p.m. PRESENT Chairman Members Dr. Tom Duer Billy Cypert Bill Schopper Robert Skinner Clayton Husband Steve Pence Gregory Arrington Jim Grant Perry Christensen Planner Building Official Plans Examiner ABSENT Mr. Skinner made the motion to approve the minutes as presented. The motion was seconded by Mr. Schopper. The motion carried 4-0. Chairman Duer stated that the State law requires four affirmative votes for a variance request to pass, regardless of the number of members in attendance. He stated the Board consists of 5 voting members and 2 alternate members. Request of David Aleksandrowicz to vary from the masonry requirement on Lot B, Block 9, Richland Heights Addition, to allow an addition to the building to be constructed of siding. Th is property is located at 781 5 G lenview Drive. Chairman Duer opened the Public Hearing and called for those wishing to speak to come forward at th is time. Mr. David Aleksandrowicz came forward to speak. He stated the existing building is metal, and the existing slab was poured for a metal building. He stated he was required to obtain a variance to construct the bui Iding of siding. Mr. Skinner asked how large the proposed addition is. Mr. Aleksandrowicz stated 1,400 square feet. Mr. Skinner asked what the building would be constructed of. Mr. Aleksandrowicz stated steel with metal siding. Mr. Skinner asked if the building will be the same height. Mr. Aleksandrowicz stated yes. Chairman Duer asked if any manufacturing was done on site. Mr. Aleksandrowicz stated no, the building will be used for storage. Chairman Duer asked what the addition will be used for. " ZBA Min'tutes - Page 2 19 January 1995 There being no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Duer closed the public hearing. Mr. Skinner made the motion to approve BA 94-32 as requested. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cypert. The motion carried 4-0. 2. BA 95-01 Request of Marvin Utter to vary from the sign height and size requirements, and to allow a pole sign in the R-7-MF district on Lot 1, Block 2; Lots 2 & 8, Block 1; and Lot A, Block 3; University Plaza Addition. This property is located at 8500 Harwood Road. Chairman Duer opened the Public Hearing and called for those wishing to speak to come forward at this time. Mr. Skinner stated there are four signs under consideration in this request. He stated the Board should consider each sign as a separate item. Mr. Skinner stated the Board will discuss the monument sign at the entrance to the complex on Harwood Road first. Mr. Marvin Utter, with Alexander Signs, came forward to speak. He stated the new owners of the property are in the business of taking older properties and renovating them. He stated they intend to take this property, dress it up, and make it the centerpiece property for this management company. Mr. Utter stated this property was originally four different complexes. He stated they are tryi ng to give name recogn ition to all properties with adequate signage. Mr. Utter stated the architecture of each complex is very different. He stated the first sign will take the place of an existing sign, and be placed at the main entrance to the community. Chairman Duer stated the applicant is asking for more square footage and more height. Mr. Utter stated the reason for the increase in height is to make the sign more attractive, and to give the sign a more artistic look. He stated a raised sign will also allow for landscaping around the base. Mr. Skinner asked if the Planning and Zoning Commission was considering changing the area and height of this type of sign. Mr. Husband stated no. Mr. Utter stated taller signs allow for more landscaping around the base. Mr. Cypert asked what the height of the existing columns are. Mr. Utter stated six and one-half feet. Mr. Cypert asked what the tallest apartment monument sign is. Mr. Husband stated the survey conducted by staff revealed 7 feet from ground to the top of sign. Chairman Duer stated he has no problem getting the signs off the ground. Mr. Schopper asked if the sign is raised off the ground, does that change the sign to a pole sign. Mr. Husband stated no, as long as the base of the sign is one foot or less about the ground. , ZBA Mirtutes - Page 3 19 January 1995 Chairman Duer asked if the Board would be willing to consider both monument signs at the same time. The Board agreed to consider both monument signs at one time. Mr. Cypert stated nine feet in height is really too tall for a monument sign. He stated he is not opposed to a 7-foot tall sign with shrubbery around the base. There was general discussion regarding the height of the sign. Mr. Cypert stated his concern over other complexes coming forward and asking for signs of similar height. He stated they need to keep things in perspective in the city regarding the heights of these signs. He stated reducing the base of the sign from four feet to two feet would not impact the visibility of the sign or the opportunity to landscape around the sign. Mr. Skinner stated that these monument signs will be located at the main entrance and at the "entrance" on Thousand Oaks Drive. Mr. Schopper asked if there was a formula that based the size of a sign on the speed limit of the adjacent road. Mr. Husband stated some cities may have something like that. Chairman Duer asked if the owner had any problem with making the sign seven feet tall to the flat portion of the sign. Mr. Utter stated no. There being no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Duer closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Skinner made the motion to approve both monument signs in BA 95-0, on Harwood Road and Thousand Oaks Drive, as follows: the base of the sign 2-feet above ground level, the sign not to exceed 7-feet in height from the ground level to the flat top of the sign, and the sign not to exceed 17-feet in total width. The motion was seconded by Mr. Schopper. The motion carried 4-0. Chairman Duer stated the Board will now consider the request of the pole signs on Harwood Road and on Thousand Oaks at the turnaround. Mr. Schopper asked what the reason was for requesting a pole sign. Mr. Utter stated all the signs are designed the same for continuity. He stated the size of Harwood Road was another factor for requesting a pole sign. He stated the pole sign increases visibi I ity. Mr. Schopper asked if apartment complexes are allowed to use flags. Mr. Husband stated yes. Chairman Duer stated no other apartment complexes in the city have pole signs. Mr. Utter stated at one time there was a pole sign located near the rear of the property where one of the pole signs is requested. Mr. Cypert stated a pole sign is a big deviation from what the requirements of the ordinance are. He stated the Planning and Zoning Commission would need to consider adding pole signs for apartment complexes before the Board should consider such a large variation from ," ZBAMiilutes - Page 4 19 january 1995 the ordinance. He stated he would rather see the Board consider additional monument signs rather than two pole signs. Mr. Utter stated the owner would rather have additional monument signs than not having any other signage. Mr. Cypert stated the applicant should discuss pole signs in apartment complexes with the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Skinner made the motion to approve two additional signs in BA 95-01 as monument signs in place of the pole signs, subject to the limitations in size, height, and area as the monument signs previously approved. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cypert. The motion carried 4-0. 3. BA 95-02 Request of Richard Rhodes to vary from the masonry screening wall requirement Lot 1, Block 1; Smithfield Storage Addition, to waive the screening wall requirement on the north side of the property. This property is located at the northeast corner of Smithfield Road and Starnes Road. Chairman Duer opened the Public Hearing and called for those wishing to speak to come forward at this time. Mr. Richard Rhodes, 1315 Snow Mountain Circle, Keller, came forward to speak. He stated he is constructing a self-storage facility. He stated his property is surrounded by a piece of property owned by one person. Mr. Rhodes stated a small portion of that property is zoned R-3, the rest is zoned C-2. He stated he is requesting a variance from the screening wall requirement along the portion zoned R-3. Mr. Schopper asked if Mr. Rhodes has a plan of what the finished product will look like. Mr. Rhodes stated he is converting the existing building into several units. He stated his overall goal is to construct about four more buildings in the future. Mr. Skinner asked where access to this property is from. Mr. Rhodes stated from Smithfield Road. There being no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Duer closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Schopper made the motion to approve BA 95-02 as requested. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cypert. The motion carried 4-0. CITIZEN COMMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ? ~ ..ð~ Dr. Tom Duer, Chairman