HomeMy WebLinkAboutDepartment Report 02-28-224 of 9
CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS | HEARING OFFICER MEETING
DEPARTMENT REPORT
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022
(V) Carmel Library Sign Variances.
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approvals:
5. Docket No. PZ-2022-00019 V UDO Section 5.39.H.6.c.iv. Ground sign design - no
delineated cornice requested.
6. Docket No. PZ-2022-00020 V UDO Section 5.39.H.2 2 signs allowed, 3 signs requested.
The site is located at 55 4th Ave SE (now 425 E. Main St.) and is zoned R2/Residence. Filed by Antone
Sgro of Ratio Design on behalf of the Carmel Clay Public Library.
General Info & Analysis:
The Petitioner seeks approval for signage, related to the library remodel project. New signs are required for
wayfinding and building identification. The architecture and signage will be complementary and are intended
to be legible with a clean and modern design. Please see the Petitioner’s info packet for more detail on the
variance requests.
Ground Sign Variance: The proposed ground sign will be a unique design and more like an art piece. It will be
placed near the northwest corner of the site, at the street intersection, but it will face north towards Main Street.
The sign oriented north along Main Street will read ‘LIBRARY’. It is a ground sign made of box letters that sit
upon a limestone wall base. The overall sign height will be around 5 feet tall. The letter heights will be 2’8” tall,
and it will be 16’8” wide (or 45 sq. ft. for the letter area). The sign will also be a form of art. The large solid
block letters will be up lit from the ground. Per the Sign Ordinance, all ground signs must have a delineated
cornice. Due to the modern design proposed for this sign, the Petitioner seeks to have no cornice.
Number of Signs Variance: The 6-acre site has two street frontages, and so a total of two signs are allowed for
this single tenant. The Petitioner requests three signs, total. Two signs are proposed to be oriented west, and one
sign is proposed to be oriented north.
The first ground sign will be oriented north along Main Street will read ‘LIBRARY’. It will be a ground sign
made of box letters that sit upon a limestone wall base. The overall sign height will be around 5 feet tall. The
letter heights will be 2’8” tall, and it will be 16’8” wide (or 45 sq. ft. for the letter area).
The wall sign oriented west will read ‘Carmel Clay Public Library’. It will be mounted a little more than 15
from the ground. The sign area will be 22 sq. ft, with 1-ft tall letters that span 22’1” wide. It will be mounted on
the west façade of the library building that is closest to the street intersection.
The second ground sign which will be oriented west, will read ‘Carmel Clay Public Library’. This ground sign
will be approximately 3’8” tall. The letters will be 1’4” tall and will span 31’ft wide. It will be placed along the
street, but closer to the entrance drive that goes to the parking garage.
Again, these signs will aid with wayfinding and building identification.
The Petitioner addressed all planning/zoning review comments. And, the Planning Dept. supports the
variance requests.
Findings of Fact:
Please refer to the Petitioner’s Findings of Facts included in their info packet.
Recommendation:
The Dept. of Community Services (DOCS) recommends Positive consideration of Docket Nos. PZ-2022-00019
V -00020 V, and with adoption of the findings of fact submitted by the Petitioner.