Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 02-26-247 of 11 CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS REGULAR MEETING DEPARTMENT REPORT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2024 (V) Merchants Bank HQ2 Sign Variance. The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approval: 1. Docket No. PZ-2023-00253 V UDO Section 5.39.D Roof Signs prohibited, 2 requested. The site is located at 420 3rd Ave SW (Carmel Midtown Redevelopment subdivision, Lot B). It is zoned C2/Mixed Use District. Filed by Dan Moriarity of Studio M Architecture. General Info: • The Petitioner seeks variance approval for Roof Sign types, which are prohibited. • The site is located in the Carmel Midtown Redevelopment subdivision, just west and across the street from the existing Merchants Bank building. • Two roof signs are requested – one at the northeast corner of the roof and one at the southeast corner. • This new office building will be connected to the existing Merchant Bank building with a skywalk over 3rd Ave SW. (Please see page 15 of this 2023 info packet for renderings.) • Surrounding this site are mixed uses, such as apartments, single family homes, office, industrial, etc. • Please see the Petitioner’s info packet for more detail on the variance request. Variance Requested: Sign Type - • The Roof Signs are a prohibited sign type; however two roof signs are requested. • Each proposed green “M” logo sign will be 20’ wide x 7’4” tall, or 146.6 sq. ft. in size. • They are proposed to be situated on the roof, facing northeast and southeast. • A ‘canopy sign’ facing east will also be added to the building, right above the entry doors. It will be around 1’3” tall x 15’ wide. Review Comments: • The Petitioner addressed all review comments related to complying with the variance process. Final Comments: • The Planning Dept. does not support the variance request. There is no practical difficulty. There are plenty of other sign types that can be utilized, such as blade/projecting signs, wall signs, etc. • The Merchants Bank building located just to the east of the subject site currently has three roof signs. BZA variance docket nos. 17100010,29-30 V were granted in 2017. The sign variances for that building were approved with the condition that no future roof sign will be requested for the northwest area of the roof. • This building has both south and east street frontages offering highly visible opportunities for signage on both those frontages: on the south frontage signage can be installed on the spandrel area above the 5th floor windows, and on the east frontage both along the spandrel area above the 5th floor windows as well as down the northeast corner the left of the glazed wall above the main entrance. The spandrel area above the main doors on the east elevation also offers ample space for entrance signage. Suitable signs could be wall signs (south and East) and blade signs (East). • This HQ2 building will be 5 stories tall, just like the Merchants Bank building. Here is a Laserfiche weblink to Docket No. PZ-2023-00125 DP/ADLS: Merchants Bank HQ2 at Carmel Midtown Lot B. • The BZA is not a precedent-setting body. Findings of Fact: • The BZA attorney will write up the negative findings of fact. Recommendation: • The Dept. of Community Services (DOCS) recommends negative consideration of this variance request, and with the adoption of the negative Findings of Fact (to be written up by the BZA Attorney).