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CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
HEARING OFFICER: DEPARTMENT REPORT
March 6, 2007
1-2d. Meridian Design Center - Signage
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approval:
Docket No. 07010019 V Chapter 3.07 Dermition of Sign Area
Docket No. 07010020 V Sign Chart C Address Number Size
The site is located at 12955 Old Meridian St. and is zoned OM/MU - Old Meridian Mixed Use. Filed by
Paul Reis of Bose McKinney & Evans, LLP.
General Info:
The petitioner is seeking to upgrade
the look of this development. A new
sign package design will be
presented to the Plan Commission.
The first variance request is for sign
square footage calculation and the
second variance is for the size of the
building address numbers.
Analysis:
The ordinance requires sign area to
be the calculated by multiplying the
maximum vertical dimension by the
maximum horizontal dimension
(excluding the structural
support).The peitioner seeks variance approval to calulate sign area by adding the square footage of a
sign's text and then adding the square footage of a logo, to alleviate any 'dead space' within the sign area.
The second variance is for the height of the address numbers of the budilng, so that the numbers can be 12
inches in height, which is greater than the maximum of3.5 inches (within 100-ft of the road) and 7
inches allowed (within 200-ft ofthe road).
Findings of Fact: sign area definition
1.) The approval of this variance will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and
general welfare of the community because: the sign area will be calculated by measuring the
square footage of the logo, and then the square footage of the text/letters, adding them together, so
that no "dead space' is added to the sign square footage.
2.) The use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be
affected in a substantially adverse manner because:
the sign area will be calculated by measuring the square footage of the logo, and then the letters,
adding them together, so that no "dead space' is added to the sign square footage.
3.) The strict application of the terms of the Zoning Ordinance to the property will result in
practical difficulties in the use of the property because: "dead space" may be figured into the
sign area, requiring a smaller sign size, possibly affecting the readability of the sign from the
roads, possibly causing a hardship to patrons/visitors to the site.
Findings of Fact: address number size
1.) The approval of this variance will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and
general welfare of the community because: the additional height of the address numbers will only
aid in the visibility of the building address from a greater distance, aiding drivers and pedestrians in
building identification.
2.) The use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be
affected in a substantially adverse manner because: the additional height of the address numbers
will only aid in the visibility of the building address from a greater distance, aiding drivers and
pedestrians in building identification.
3.) The strict application of the terms of the Zoning Ordinance to the property will result in
practical difficulties in the use of the property because: the size of the building address numbers
will be limited in size, possibly negatively affecting the identification of the building by drivers and
pedestrians.
Recommendation:
The Dept. of Community Services recommends positive consideration of Docket Nos. 07010019-20 V
and after all questions/concerns are addressed.