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CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS HEARING OFFICER
DEPARTMENT REPORT
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025
(V) Connection Pointe Church Sign Variance.
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approval for a wall sign:
9. Docket No. PZ-2024-00243 V UDO Section 5.39.3(h)(i) Sign height (109” height
allowed, 117.6” requested). The site is located at 2599 E. 98th St. and is zoned S2/Residence and
Keystone Parkway Overlay District. Filed by Sarah Zimmerman with Connection Pointe Church.
General Info:
• The Petitioner seeks approval for a wall sign that is slightly too tall/large for the wall spandrel panel area.
• Variance is requested for wall sign height.
• Related docket no. PZ-2024-00011 TAC approved additional improvements to the site and existing building.
• The site is not located in any subdivision.
• The subject parcel has two street frontages.
• Surrounding this site are single family residential uses and office/commercial uses.
• Please see the Petitioner’s info packet for more details on the variance request.
Variance Requested:
Sign Height -
• The UDO allows a certain sign height, based upon a percentage of the height/width of a spandrel panel area.
• A Spandrel Panel is an opaque rectangular wall panel area in a facade filling the space between architectural
elements, usually above and below windows or between building expansion joints
• The sign area allowed for a Wall Sign Area is:
o i. Up to Seventy percent (70%) of tenant’s Spandrel Panel height, and
o ii. Up to Eighty-five percent (85%) of tenant’s Spandrel Panel width, with a ten percent (10%) leeway
allowance for architectural elements that may hinder sign visibility.
• The erected north-facing sign now occupies approximately 75.5% of the spandrel panel height, rather than
the maximum 70% allowed by UDO sign standards, making it 8” taller than allowed.
• For this specific spandrel panel area, the allowed sign height is 109”, while 117.6” is requested. This is a
variance of 8.6 inches or an 8% change.
• The sign is circular in size, so it does not take up the typical amount of space that a traditional square or
rectangular shaped sign might. In other worder, there is a lot of ‘free space’.
Remaining Review Comments:
• Landscaping compliance is requested as a condition of approval.
Final Comments:
• The Planning Dept. supports the variance request. The sign company mistakenly worked off incorrect
measurements, but with an 8-inch variation, the wall sign still looks proportionate to the spandrel panel area.
• Landscaping compliance is requested as a condition of variance approval. If this condition is approved by the
Hearing Officer, the Petitioner should work with the City’s Urban Forester (Daren Mindham) for approval of
a final landscape plan / planting plan.
Findings of Fact:
• Please refer to the Petitioner’s Findings of Facts included in their BZA Info Packet.
Recommendation:
• The Dept. of Community Services (DOCS) recommends positive consideration of the sign variance request,
with the condition of landscaping compliance, and with the adoption of the Findings of Facts submitted by
the Petitioner.