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Home My WebLink AboutSRB 2011-06-13 Minutes MINUTES OF THE SIGN REVIEW BOARD OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820 JUNE 13, 2011 — 7:15 P.M. The City Council of the City of North Richland Hills, Texas met as the Sign Review Board on the 13 day of June, 2011 immediately following the 7:00 p.m. Council meeting. Present: Oscar Trevino Mayor Tim Barth Mayor Pro Tem, Council, Place 4 Tito Rodriguez Council, Place 1 Ken Sapp Council, Place 2 Tom Lombard Council, Place 3 David Whitson Council, Place 5 Tim Welch Council, Place 7 Staff: Mark Hindman City Manager Jared Miller Assistant City Manager Karen Bostic Assistant City Manager Jimmy Perdue Director of Public Safety Mike Curtis Managing Director Vickie Loftice Managing Director Patricia Hutson City Secretary Monica Solko Assistant City Secretary George Staples Attorney Absent: Scott Turnage Council, Place 6 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Trevino called the meeting to order June 13, 2011 at 7:33 p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 7, 2011 SIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING APPROVED Mayor Trevino called for a motion. COUNCILMAN LOMBARD MOVED TO APPROVE MINUTES OF MARCH 7, 2011 SIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING. COUNCILMAN SAPP SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6 -0. Sign Review Board Minutes June 13, 2011 Page 2 3. SRB 2011 -03 PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER SIGN VARIANCE REQUEST REGARDING SECTION 106 -3(12) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ZONGAS'S MEDITERRANEAN EATERY LOCATED AT 7657 BOULEVARD 26 APPROVED Mayor Trevino opened the public hearing. Mr. Bassam Odfh, 7655 State Highway 26, NRH, came forward. Mr. Odfh, the owner of Zongas's, spoke about the different improvements to the building, the food menu and entertainment that would be featured at the restaurant. Mr. Steven Morris with Accent Graphics Inc. came forward. Mr. Morris stated the applicant is requesting a sign variance in order to allow for modifications on the current pole sign. Mr. Morris presented pictures of the new sign and was available to answer any questions Council may have on the pole sign design. Mr. Dave Pendley, Building Official, presented the Staff's report. The applicant currently has a 65 foot tall, non - conforming pole sign near the center of their property that cannot be reutilized per city ordinance. Given the unique cuisine and new brand, the applicant believes that reuse of the sign will provide visibility from Loop 820 to attract the number of customers needed to offset the remodel cost. The applicant has committed to investing over $400,000 into their remodeling project as indicated in their building permit issued on January 26 2011 that does not include another $300,000 investment in furniture, fixtures and equipment. The applicant has also agreed to make the above improvements prior to constructing the new pole sign. Staff recommends approval of the sign variance subject to the following conditions: 1. A permit to construct the new pole sign cannot be approved by staff until the remodeling project, which is currently underway, is completed with all upgrades and improvements totaling over $400,000. 2. This variance is for Zonga's Mediterranean Eatery at 7657 Boulevard 26 only. Any different use at this address would not be permitted under this variance request. Council questioned staff's request to wait until remodeling was complete before starting the sign improvements. Mr. Pendley stated that the decision was not to hinder the applicant but was a standard request that all building remodeling be complete before the pole sign improvements begin. Council suggested that once a soft date of opening was set to allow three months prior to begin work on the pole sign, so that both could be complete at the same time. Sign Review Board Minutes June 13, 2011 Page 3 Mayor Trevino called for comments in favor or opposition to come forward. There being no one wishing to speak, Mayor Trevino closed the public hearing. COUNCILMAN WELCH MOVED TO APPROVE SRB 2011 -03, APPROVAL OF THE NEW SIGN POLE SUBJECT TO THE APPLICANT BEING ALLOWED TO BEGIN WORK ON THE SIGN INSTALLATION APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO OPENING AND BE ALLOWED TO INSTALL THE SIGN PRIOR TO OPENING AND ALSO GRANT THE VARIANCE AS REQUESTED. COUNCILMAN SAPP SECOND THE MOTION. COUNCILMAN WHITSON REQUESTED AN AMENDMENT TO THE MOTION, THAT THE SIGN BE USED FOR ZONGA'S ONLY, IF OWNERSHIP CHANGES THE VARIANCE WOULD NOT CARRY OVER. COUNCILMAN WELCH ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENT AND COUNCILMAN SAPP WHO SECONDED THE MOTION ALSO ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENT. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6 -0. 4. SRB 2011 -04 PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER DIGITAL BILLBOARD REQUEST PER SECTION 106(12)B OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY LAMAR OUTDOOR ADVERTISING NEAR THE 8700 BLOCK OF AIRPORT FREEWAY /SH -121 APPROVED Mayor Trevino opened the public hearing and called on the applicant to come forward. Jamie Fransen, 625 109 Street, Arlington, TX representing Lamar Outdoor Advertising came forward. Mr. Fransen stated that Lamar Outdoor Advertising was requesting two variances for the conversion of an existing off premise sign and would like to convert the lease space targeting west bound traffic to digital or LED technology. Dave Pendley, Building Official, summarized the item. The applicant, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, has requested permission to modify an existing non - conforming conventional billboard with digital technology. The proposed project is located west and adjacent to the Best Western Hotel (8709 Airport Freeway) on the north side of the freeway and will be visible to west -bound traffic only. The digital billboard will meet the requirements established by the Code of Ordinances and state law by adhering to the limitations on height, size, message refresh rate, brightness control, etc.; however, the following variances have been requested by the applicant. 1. Request to maintain the current separation of 170 feet from the nearest freestanding general business sign. Current ordinance requires a minimum separation of 200 feet from the nearest freestanding sign. Compliance with the 200 foot separation would force the applicant to negotiate the purchase and /or Sign Review Board Minutes June 13, 2011 Page 4 lease of additional property in order to move the billboard and additional 30 feet away from the Best Western Hotel sign. 2. Request to maintain the current separation of 750 feet from the nearest conventional or digital billboard on the same side of the freeway. Current ordinance requires a minimum separation of 1,500 feet. This billboard is located approximately 750 feet away from another conventional billboard. Staff has reviewed the application and visited the site, and has determined that the requested variances will not cause the billboard to be in violation of the Highway Beautification Act of 1965. As such, the Sign Review Board is within their authority to grant relief to the applicant by approving the requested variances. Staff recommends approval of SRB 2001 -04 with the variances stated above. Mayor Trevino called for anyone wishing to speak for or against the request to come forward. There being no one wishing to speak, Mayor Trevino closed the public hearing and called for the motion. COUNCILMAN LOMBARD MOVED TO APPROVE SRB 2011 -04 WITH THE STIPULATIONS OUTLINED BY STAFF. COUNCILMAN RODRIGUEZ SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE CARRIED 6 -0. 5. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Trevino adjourned the meeting at 7:58 p.m. Osca evino — Mayor / Chair ATTEST: .,Q � r ��u��uuuuptu u �� i �ici Huts ty Secretary % 0 1 .. y / / /Unp UUUt►1�`�wu�` °y``�