HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 07-25-11 CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
JULY 25, 2011 DEPARTMENT REPORT
8 -14. (V) Circle K/Shell (College Ave.) Signage
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approvals:
Docket No. 11040020 V Ch. 25.07.02 09 d): Ground sign height (8' proposed, 6' allowed)
Docket No. 11040021 V Ch. 25.07.02 -09 b): Number of signs (5 proposed, 2 allowed)
Docket No. 11040022 V Ch. 25.07.02 09 b): Number of signs facing north ROW (2 proposed,
1 allowed)
Docket No. 11040023 V Ch. 25.07.02 09 b): Number of signs facing east ROW (3 proposed,
1 allowed)
Docket No. 11040024 V Ch. 25.07.02 08 c): Total square footage (113.62 sq. ft. proposed, 75
sq. ft. allowed)
Docket No. 11040025 V Ch. 3 Definitions; Changeable Copy: Digital pricing sign prohibited,
must be changed non electronically.
Docket No. 11040026 V Ch. 3 Definition of Identification Sign: 2 100% logo wall signs
proposed, 25% logo allowed.
The site is located at 10598 College Ave. It is zoned B- 1/Business within the Home Place Business District. Filed
by Auna Foote of Corporate ID Solutions on behalf of Circle K/Shell.
m O General Info:
th 1 1 The applicant seeks variance approval to
F a� r^�r W �'4� 10s St s. ��k r i x a" pp 1�1�
st 4 h i rebrand the previous Crystal Flash gas
r wok* station into a Circle K/Shell station.
4 4 1 4 :i w k" r 1 r Variances are required for all requests at this
�rr„�� 4 i i �t I ,�'4 0 location.
'',14:410 -gee ^r't ¢"s. „KO-5P r1� i" �i t a h
m� a t s �n qt'n�,,, i
k s ate, w"y" fi ft t •1 e`nti 1 y} f C W f. r 'k2 's- x v �1 �p i Anal li.+d`;vq x'Prd a1.r i ia�.... .�i+ ski. Y.kk6rx"s �;t Y l t x t p
coy o.. This build i s allowed two s one
4 ,4 P, 6 ground sign at 45 sq. ft. and 6' tall and one at
"m A x -40 4 `^1 Agi. xs S ar
r h wall sign at 30 s ft. This is because of the
4 a s e }fi m g q'
��t
r x a s
b s and the location of the signs.
t ''t 4 I k m i Also, because the building fronts on two
B 1 a public streets, only two signs are allowed.
�i` g 0,14 g 0, A' 0 The applicant is requesting 5 signs.
s x n m, fry. i
9
o r s The requested ground sign is 6.? tall and 40
r. �w i� 0 i stl. ft. The si o f this si gn i s wi thin the
*.r .e ti x aa i r i z 4 t a k 4 n
E r to 4 3 it y= allowable 45 sq. ft., it is just the height that
3 ,*1 s Y y 0 R. y W, df r S
'��%k 0 L i 4 D" r a s 4 3 P5.1.00#1
$R a t x 5 i s over what is allowed. This is not a new use
ski m y e y�� 5 �s a y c 1 z r 7 a�3 t
tio,A t g l P �it t �r f or t i ntersection and visibility is not an
fie j n 0 F °n �.e t e r v
rr 4, Y V issue. Therefore the Department is not in
tti i xii 1
2 NARI v k '4 o support of the height of this ground sign.
a rs
tiatatightltt The Department is also not in support of the digital LED pricing sign. It is also believed that the pricing portion of the
sign is overshadowed by the Circle K and Shell logos. Patrons need to be able to see the gas price. But it must be done in
a manner that is consistent with the rest of Carmel. (These design issues will be discussed at the Special Studies
Committee meeting.) The digital LED pricing sign is not allowed by the Sign Ordinance and there are no digital TED gas
pricing signs anywhere in the City of Carmel. The Department intends to keep this consistent throughout the City and not
allow this type of pricing sign.
The applicant is proposing to place two Shell logos on the.gas canopy, one facing north and one facing east. The gas
canopy is considered an accessory structure and therefore is not allowed signage by the Sign Ordinance. Brand
colors /designs are allowed and are not considered signage. But no actual signage, logos or pricing is allowed to be placed
on the canopy itself. No other gas stations in Carmel have signage on the canopies. The Department believes it is best to
keep this consistent throughout the City and is not in favor or signage on the canopy.
The Department is in support of part of the variance for 100% logo for the Circle K sign above the entrance to the
convenience store. The issue is that the Department only supports one 100% logo sign. It is allowable for the convenience
store to have one identification sign facing north towards 106"' St. With a ground sign by the street; the Department does
not believe two wall identification signs for Circle K are necessary. The Department does have concern over the design of
the new facade, but that will be discussed at the Special Studies Committee meeting.
The additional signs have brought the overall requested square footage to more than the 75 that is allowed by the Sign
Ordinance. The ground sign is 40 sq. ft, the two signs on the canopy are each 15.5 sq. ft. and the two Circle K signs for
over the convenience store entrance are each 25 sq. ft. The Department is not in support of the additional signs on the
canopy, the additional Circle K identification sign on the east elevation of the building, or the 6.5' tall ground sign with
digital LED pricing sign. The Department believes the ground sign would provide ample identification at 6' tall, and that
the change of design/colors on the canopy will help announce that this is now a Shell gas station. Additional signs on the
canopy are not required for identification.
Please see the petitioner's informational packet for more detail.
Findings of Fact:
1. The approval of these variances will be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of
the community because: the signage is in excess of what the Sign Ordinance allows. Adequate identification
opportunities are available through the Sign Ordinance.
2. The use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will be affected in a
substantially adverse manner because: the additional signage and ground sign height would put neighboring
businesses and other gas stations at a competitive disadvantage. The additional signage would also create visual
clutter an already busy shopping center.
3. The strict application of the terms of the Zoning Ordinance to the property will not result in practical
difficulties in the use of the property because: adequate and proper identification is allowed by right through the
Sign Ordinance. The Ordinance standards are applied consistently to all gas stations, therefore not placing a hardship
on any one gas station or giving any one gas station an advantage over another.
Recommendation: After all concerns have been addressed, the Dept. of Community Services recommends NEGATIVE
consideration of Docket Nos. 11040020 1 1040025 and POSITIVE consideration of part A (sign facing north) of
Docket No. 11040026 V. (part B would be the sign facing east.)