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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZBA 1994-01-20 Minutes MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS January 20, 1994 - 7:30 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chairman Tom Duer at 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT Chairman Members Dr. Tom Duer Billy Cypert Robert Skinner Bill Schopper Perry Christensen Steve Pence Clayton Husband Steve Ingham Jim Grant Building Official Planner ABSENT CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16, 1993 Chairman Duer asked those members present at the previous meeting who were in favor of the minutes to raise their hand. The minutes passed 5-0. 1 . Election of Officers for 1994 Mr. Cypert made the motion to retain the same officers as the previous year. The motion was seconded by Mr. Schopper, and the motion carried 5-0. The officers for 1994 are Dr. Tom Duer, Chairman; Robert Skinner, Vice- Chairman; and Recording Secretary, Clayton Husband. 2. BA 93-32 Request of Bill Suggs for a variance from the Zoning Ordinance No. 1874 on Lot 1, Block 13, Woodcrest Addition, to allow a sign for off-premise advertising. This property is located at 8612 Airport Freeway. Chairman Duer opened the Public Hearing and called for those wishing to speak to come forward at this time. Mr. Bill Grantland, 3811 Fox Glen, Irving, came forward to speak. He stated he was the owner of the Northeast Plaza Shopping Center. He stated the property where Furr's is located and the shopping center were once one piece of property. He stated there is a shared access easement. He stated there is a reciprocal sign agreement with Furr's that states a sign for each end property would be placed at the opposite end of the center. Mr. Grantland stated the sign they have applied for is a directional sign that states "Northeast Plaza. II He stated he wants people who turn into the Furr's parking lot to know they can access the shopping center. He stated he has Furr's permission to place his sign on the existing pole sign owned by Furr's. Chairman Duer asked if there is a Furr's sign on the Northeast Plaza sign on Bedford-Euless Road. Mr. Grantland stated yes. ZBA Minutes - Page 2 20 January 1994 Mr. Skinner asked if he intends to light the sign. Mr. Grantland stated yes. He stated they will try to make it look similar to the Furr's sign. He stated Furr's is requiring him to use their sign contractor. Mr. Christensen asked if the sign will be 3-foot by 8-foot. Mr. Grantland stated yes, and it will be very high in the air. Chairman Duer asked what a sign that size costs. Mr. Grantland stated about $1900. Chairman Duer called for those wishing to speak against the request to come forward at this time. Mr. Sam Lawson, 4901 Wondol Court, came forward to speak. He asked what size the Furr's sign is. Mr. Skinner stated the sign is 50-feet high, and 20-feet in diameter. He stated the proposed sign is 3-feet by a-feet. He showed Mr. Lawson a picture of the proposed sign. Mr. Lawson asked if both side would be lit. Mr. Grantland stated yes. Mr. Luther Allen 4916 Wondol Court, came forward to speak. He stated lighting in the area is a concern of the neighborhood. He stated his objection to the brightness of the sign. Chairman Duer asked about the status of the grand opening sign regulations. Mr. Husband stated the City Council will consider an ordinance regarding grand opening signs at the upcoming Council meeting. He stated a permit for grand opening signs would be good for 30 days. Mr. Leland Cumbie, 4825 Weyland Drive, came forward to speak. He asked where the 8612 address is. Chairman Duer stated that is the address of Furr's. He stated the sign would be attached to the existing pole sign. Mr. Cumbie stated his concern over the lighting of the sign. There being no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Duer closed the Public Hearing. Chairman Duer asked what the regulations regarding sign illumination were. Mr. Pence stated signs may be lit provided they do not blink, flash, or have rotating beacons. ZBA Minutes - Page 3 20 January 1994 Mr. Christensen asked if the proposed sign would add that much more light. He stated the Furr's sign would overpower the sign anyway. He asked if there are any stipulations against neon lighting. Mr. Pence stated no. Mr. Skinner stated that the ordinance recommends that signs be turned off after business hours and that signs do not shine on adjacent properties. Mr. Cypert asked if there is a reason for lighting the sign on the east side. Mr. Grantland stated Furr's would like to keep the sign as similar to theirs as possible. He stated people may not see the sign either way when coming from the east. Mr. Skinner asked if he intends to use neon. Mr. Grantland stated he is not sure whether neon will be used. He stated the sign would have to meet whatever requirements are applicable. He stated the drawing is conceptual, and the actual engineering of the sign will not start until the Board makes its decision. Mr. Lawson came forward to speak. He asked why Furr's is not required to turn their sign off after business hours. Mr. Pence stated the ordinance only recommends to businesses that they turn their signs off. He stated he has no authority to require them to do so. Mr. Cypert stated a petition from the neighborhood association to Furr's would probably be the best approach. Mr. Grantland stated there probably would not be any neon on the sign. He stated it would be similar to the Furr's sign on the Bedford-Euless Road pole sign. Mr. Skinner asked if there was any correspondence regarding this request. Mr. Husband stated no. Mr. Cypert made the motion to approve BA 93-32 as requested provided that the proper permits are applied for. Mr. Skinner offered an amendment to the motion to include no neon on the sign. Mr. Cypert accepted the amendment to the motion. The amended motion was seconded by Mr. Schopper, and the motion carried 5-0. 3. BA 94-01 Request of Bobby Dorn for a variance from the Zoning Ordinance No. 1874 on Lot K, Block 14, Richland Terrace Addition, to vary from the landscaping requirement. This property is located at 7709 Maplewood Avenue. Chairman Duer opened the Public Hearing and called for those wishing to speak to come forward at this time. ZBA Minutes - Page 4 20 January 1994 Mr. Bobby Dorn, 213 Wooddale, Euless, came forward to speak. He stated he would like to pave the east side of his property from the building to the street. He stated most all of the other properties in that particular area are all paved to the curb. Mr. Christensen asked if his property fronts Maplewood Avenue. Mr. Dorn stated yes. Chairman Duer asked if he was aware that if utility companies need to repair services located in the paved right-of-way, that the utility company will not repair the damaged area. Mr. Dorn stated he is aware of that, and it is no problem. There being no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Duer closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Christensen asked if it is the Board's right to give permission to vary from the ordinances passed by the City Council in regards to landscaping. Mr. Husband stated that is the purpose of this Board. Mr. Christensen stated there needs to be some form of landscaping on the property to help the beautification of the city. Mr. Schopper asked if Mr. Dorn was parking on that space now. Mr. Dorn stated yes. Mr. Schopper asked if it was grass, dirt, or had shrubs planted in that area. Mr. Dorn stated it is mostly grass and dirt. Mr. Cypert stated the Board needs to take the entire area into consideration. He stated it is difficult to hold this property to new ordinances that were passed without consideration of areas like this. He stated he feels the Board would not be defeating the purpose of the landscaping ordinance by passing this variance request. Mr. Schopper made the motion to approve BA 94-01 as presented. Mr. Cypert offered an amendment to the motion to include the Public Works requirement in regards to depth of concrete or depth of asphalt. Mr. Schopper accepted the amendment to the motion. The amended motion was seconded by Mr. Cypert, and the motion carried 4-1, with Chairman Duer, Mr. Schopper, Mr. Cypert, and Mr. Skinner voting for; and Mr. Christensen voting against. 4. BA 93-31 Request of Chandler Signs for a variance from the Zoning Ordinance No. 1874 on Lot 1, Block 1, North Richland Hills Station Addition, to vary from the maximum sign height requirement. This property is located at 7800 Bedford-Euless Road. Chairman Duer opened the Public Hearing and called for those wishing to speak to come forward at this time. ZBA Minutes - Page 5 20 January 1994 Mr. Bill Macrum, with Chandler Signs, San Antonio, came forward to speak. He stated he is the agent for General Mills Restaurants. He stated the company wants to relocated an existing 50-foot pylon sign. He stated the Motel 6 blocks the Red Lobster sign when westbound on Loop 820. He presented a picture of the situation. Mr. Macrum stated they would like to move the sign closer to the freeway to solve the visibility problem He stated they would like to raise the sign to 65-feet, which would also help the situation. Chairman Duer asked if there is any problem with them moving the sign on the property. Mr. Husband stated no. Mr. Christensen asked if any of the signs along the freeway are taller than the regulations allow. Mr. Macrum stated based on the survey work, the signs are pretty much to code. He stated there are some that look taller. He stated they do not want a bigger sign, they just want more visibility. Mr. Christensen asked since moving the sign closer to the freeway would free up any visibility problems, why does the company want to raise the sign to 65-feet. Mr. Macrum stated to accommodate the traffic coming from the west. He stated they would like to solve both problems at the same time. Chairman Duer asked what they have learned from the Department of Transportation. He stated the regulations allow a sign to be placed 35- feet higher than the main travel line of the highway. He stated there is an elevated ramp proposed at that location. He stated they may be allowed to raise the sign anyway in the future. Mr. Christensen stated if the freeway is built, and they want to raise the sign again, there would be an additional cost to the owner. Mr. Macrum stated he would suggest to General Mills to oversize the base steel to plan for the future raising. Mr. Christensen asked if there is a purpose in even considering this application if they have to come back and raise the sign anyway. Chairman Duer stated the application is to raise the sign to 65-feet now, regardless of what the DOT does. Mr. Christensen stated there would be a clear line of sight for the west bound traffic if the sign remained at 50-feet. Mr. Macrum stated if they leave the sign at 50-feet and move it forward, they would block the Motel 6 sign from travelers heading east. He stated raising the sign to 65-feet would prevent that from happening. Chairman Duer asked if he was planning to move the sign closer to the freeway. ZBA Minutes - Page 6 20 January 1994 Mr. Macrum stated yes. There was general discussion regarding the location of the sign. There being no one else wishing to speak, Chairman Duer closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Christensen asked if the DOT is planning to increase the size of the frontage road during construction. Mr. Pence stated there is no frontage road on the south side of Red Lobster. Mr. Cypert made the motion to approve BA 93-31 as requested. The motion was seconded by Mr. Schopper, and the motion carried 5-0. CITIZEN COMMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ~r ~ ~~~t\'\\~~ DI. T OITl DIJer, Gnairmall ~æ2:T ~il4~~ ",œ-"'G~~ 1