HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 04-13-20 10
CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
DEPARTMENT REPORT
APRIL 13, 2020
(V) Ritz Charles Signage.
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approvals for a floating sign:
1. Docket No. 20010001 V UDO Sec. 5.39.H.2 1 sign facing west allowed, 2 proposed.
2. Docket No. 20010002 V UDO Sec. 5.39.H.3 Max. 90 s.f. sign allowed, 180 s.f. proposed.
3. Docket No. 20010003 V UDO Sec. 5.39.H.4 Max. 8’ tall ground sign allowed, 11’4” proposed.
4. Docket No. 20010005 V UDO Sec. 5.39.H.6 Sign without masonry base proposed.
The site is located at 12156 N. Meridian St. It is zoned MC/ Meridian Corridor. Filed by Corrie Meyer
of Innovative Planning, LLC.
General Info & Analysis:
The Petitioner seeks variance approval to place a floating sign along the west building façade, to face towards
Illinois Street. Please see the Petitioner’s informational packet for more detail on the variance request.
Currently, there are two permitted signs (along US 31 & along Illinois St.). The Petitioner requests a third sign.
That makes one existing east-facing ground sign, one existing west-facing ground sign, and one proposed west-
facing ground sign (floating sign). (There is also a ground complex sign located along Illinois Street but located
closer to the Hyatt Place hotel entrance.) Per the sign ordinance, only one Ground sign may face a Street
Frontage, and the Petitioner would like two ground signs to face Illinois Street.
The proposed gold colored floating sign will be located around 123 feet east of the Illinois street right of way. It
will be 4.5’ tall and 37.6’ feet wide, for a total of 169.2 sq. ft. of sign area. The maximum allowed size is 90 sq.
ft. At its tallest point, it will sit 11’10” off the ground. The maximum allowed height is 8-ft. It will not have a
masonry base - just a metal structural support that is meant to not call attention to itself; however, tall juniper
shrubs will be planted behind it for a backdrop. The sign will have externally illuminated gold letters that will
be over 4’11” off the wall.
There is no a sign design package for this overall site. But, the Petitioner would like to enhance signage for the
site. A ground sign facing Illinois Street would possibly be re-done once it is placed in a new, larger
landscaping island. The Petitioner would also like to have a “floating” wall sign in front of a row of evergreen
juniper trees. The sign would project out and be more like artwork. This additional sign requires variance
approval. A future hotel/office building sign for Carmel Hotel and Office is also being contemplated just north
of this site, which would accommodate off-premise signage for the new development to occur on the old ADT
site north of the Ritz Charles. That sign would also require variance approval for future installation due to the
number of signs already approved for the site. However, that off premi se sign for the future hotel/office
building is not part of the variance review this time.
The Petitioner addressed all planning/zoning review comments, and the Planning Dept. supports this
variance request.
Petitioner’s Findings of Fact:
Please refer to the petitioner’s Findings of Facts included in their info packet .
Recommendation:
The Dept. of Community Services recommends positive consideration of Docket Nos. 20010001-3 V and
20010005 V.