HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 11-26-18 CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
DEPARTMENT REPORT
NOV. 26,2018
(V) Honda Express Service Signs.
The applicant seeks the following additional development standards variance approval:
1. Docket No. 18090009 V UDO Section 5.39.H.2 Two signs allowed,Three signs requested (1
ground/2 wall).The site is located at 4146 E. 96th Street(former Harley Davidson site). It is zoned
B3/Business. Filed by Matthew Hoener of TDG Architects, on behalf of Penske Automotive Group.
General Info & Analysis:
The site has two street frontages. The Petitioner seeks variance approval to have three total signs(2 wall and 1
ground) for the site, when only two signs total are allowed. The signs proposed are: 1 Honda wall sign @ 56 sq.
ft.in area, 1 Express Service wall sign @ 100 sq. ft. in area, and 1 Honda ground sign @ 25 sq. ft. in area(per
sign face). No signs will face east toward Bauer Drive East; they will all face south towards 96th Street. The
signs meet the requirements for size and height. Please see the Petitioner's informational packet for more
detail on the variance request.
The Petitioner worked with Staff to come up with a sign plan that makes sense. (Two smaller oval shaped wall
signs were removed from the proposal.) Rather than having one big, long sign that reads `Honda Express
Service',there are the two separate wall signs that fit within the architectural elements of the building(spandrel
panel areas). They read: `Express Service' and `Honda'. The wall signs will be internally illuminated,with
blue faces and are within the required measurements of the sign spandrel area per the sign ordinance. (A wall
sign's size is limited to 70%of the Spandrel Panel's height and 85%of the Spandrel Panel's width. For more
info on the Sign Ordinance,please see UDO section 5.39.)
A ground sign will also be located along 96th Street. A prior variance(Docket No. 18040011) exists allowing
the ground sign to be placed within the street right-of-way. The ground sign is proposed at 6' in height with a
fully illuminated cabinet. The Planning Dept. does not support a wholly illuminated cabinet sign—only the
letters and logo should shine through (where the rest-the blue panel areas-should be opaque). The submitted
documents show a 2" concrete cap as the masonry base of the sign. This should be revised to also extend
upward to replace the 5"of blue base creating a 7"full masonry base. A landscape plan for the base of the
ground sign will be required with the sign permit application process.
Remaining Comments for Petitioner:
1. Please provide a filled out and notarized Placement of Public Notice Sign affidavit(form can be found in the
Variance Application).
2. The Planning Dept. does not support a fully illuminated cabinet ground sign. Please amend the sign design/
specs to limit the illumination to just the letters and logos(where the rest-the blue panel areas- are opaque).
3. The submitted documents show a 2"concrete cap as the masonry base of the ground sign. This should be
revised to also extend upward to replace the 5"of blue base creating a 7"full masonry base.
4. Please note that a landscape plan for a ground sign base is required with any sign permit application.
The Planning Dept can support this variance request, as long as all remaining comments are addressed
Petitioner's Findings of Fact:
Please refer to the petitioner's Findings of Facts included in their info packet.
Recommendation:
After all comments and concerns are addressed, the Dept. of Community Services recommends positive
consideration of Docket No. 18090009 V,with a Condition that the ground sign only has the logo and letters
illuminate/shine through(and that the rest of the blue sign panel/cabinet area is opaque).
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