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CARMEL PLAN COMMISSION
SPECIAL STUDIES COMl\tIITTEEE
DEPARTMENT REPORT
OCTOBER 30,2008
2. Docket No. 08100007 ADLS Amend: Carmel 'VaJk - Signage
The applicant seeks approval for a new sign package The site is located at 1305 N.
Rangeline Rd. and is zoned B-8/Business ,vithin the Carmel Drive - Rangeline Road
Overlay. Filed by Joel Hall of Sign-A-Rama on behalf of David Fineberg of The Fineberg
Group (propelty owner).
The applicant requests a change in color palate for existing and future tenants that may want to locate in
Carmel Walk. They would like to have a sign package similar to The Cenh'e - the development directly
west, across the street from Canuel Walk. Their package specifies size,installation method and that no
logo may be more than 25% of the total sign area, among other requirements. But it does not specify
color. This is what Carmel Walk would like to do - not restrict the color of a sign, The Petitioner believes
tlris would help to prevent a potential tenant from not locating in Cannel Walk because of a sign color
restnctlon.
The applicant would also like to ask for a change in how the sign size is determined for each tenant.
Cunently, the Sign Ordinance meaSlU'es the linear length of the tenant space and the distance from the
street right-of-way to deternrine size. The applicant would like for the sign size to be determined by the
linear length of the tenant's storefront and the height of the available sign band only, They are proposing
that 80% of the tenant's fa.;ade length and 65% of the available sign band area conh'ols the size of the
sIgn.
For example: Donato's Pizza. CUlTently they have a 32.5 sq. t1 sign. It is 15' x 2'2". The sign size
allowed by the Sign Ordinance is 35 sq. ft. According to the tellant's new way to calculate sign size, they
would be allowed a 3.9' x 32' sign. That is 124,8 sq, ft. This is unacceptable to the Department and does
not comply with the Sign Ordinance. We feel that the sign size determined by the Sign Ordinance Sign
Chart A allows for tenants to have adequate signage for their customers. Chapter 3 of the zoning
ordinance defines how to calculate the Sign Area: The area of a SifJIl shall be calculated hv multiplving its
rnaximum vertical dimension by its maximum horizontal dimension, excluding the structural SUl)fJort. Anv
other type of calculation of sign square footage would require BZA variance approval from this definition
of the ordinance.
The Department recommends that the Petitioner choose a wide palate of colors, so that it is broad enough
to give potential tenants plenty of options. Or, perhaps the sign face color could not be restricted, but the
ilhnninati011 would have to show through white (day/nite plex); we have found this to be a good
compronrise with other shopping centers,
After all questions/concerns are addressed, the Dept. of Community Services ."ecommends that the
Committee approves a daytime color palate fur new tenants to choose from, with signs shining
white at night.
(The way the sign size is calculated will need BZA approval fi:om the Definition of Sign
AIea OR the sign square footage allowed per tenant will need from BZA approval fi'om
Sign Chart A of the Sign Ordinance.)