HomeMy WebLinkAboutDept Report 05-28-13 CARMEL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
DEPARTMENT REPORT
MAY 28,2013
6-8. (V)Butler Hyundai—Signage.
The applicant seeks the following development standards variance approvals:
Docket No. 13020026 V Ch. 25.07.02-03 b) 1. Number of signs(6 proposed,2 allowed)
Docket No. 13020027 V Ch. 25.07.02-03 b)3. Number of signs facing south ROW(4 proposed, 1 allowed)
Docket No. 13020028 V Ch. 25.07.02-03 b) 1. Number of signs facing east ROW(2 proposed, 1 allowed)
The site is located at 4200 E. 96th St. It is zoned B-3 and is not located within any Overlay Zone. Filed by Timothy E.
Ochs of Ice Miller on behalf of 4148 96th St.,LLC
<. , i , ;: ,,{ate ,F H1 General Info:
� � � � � The Petitioner is requesting variance approval to allow multiple signs for a
,'''..-.,-.'1,1'' ;, ^� i:¢ " �, i71 new automobile dealership. This is new construction on a vacant piece of
?�. „i,.. %;�.+0� *�n �-� 'T" , d'' F 3 sac'e.j{ g , signs This site has two street frontages, so two si s would be allowed.
., A;, . 4% 'I •Six •signs are requested. The site is located to the north of the Fry's
1,- 1 . , M �g :;:1t.,,_'; z electronics store,to the west of Randall Drive and to the east of Lakeshore
Y y- S .,.m
a , T s Drive and Bauer Drive.Please refer to the petitioner's information
��g , a ,-. packet for more details.
v i�A' , .n�' 7Y P "4 �,
7 :1,,,�". : s , it, F 4 i , : Analysis:
z The Petitioner is requesting approval for five wall signs and one ground
' , ro" _ ,� sign.Four wall signs(two Hyundai with logo signs,one Butler sign and
"'' one Service with logo sign)will face south towards 96th Street and one
„! : a, % wall (Hyundai with logo)and one ground sign will face east towards
, _- Randall Bypass. The size of the signage proposed meets the size
, i , „-, .j requirements of the Sign Ordinance. The main Hyundai signs on the blue
p Pk2,. , gt.!..y . t-, m 1 entry element are the largest signs at 98 sq. ft. each. The other signs for
the dealer name,service,and a secondary entrance sign are all less than 35
sq. ft. collectively. The ground sign is about 21 sq. ft.,which is much less than the 75 sq. ft.allowed by the Sign
Ordinance. The ground sign is also 6'tall,which is the maximum height allowed.
The Department is in support of the main Hyundai sign facing south,as well as the additional wall signs for the Butler
name,small Hyundai sign over the entry,the Service sign,and the ground sign. The Department is not in support of the
additional large Hyundai sign facing east on the blue entry element though. The Department believes that the ground sign
will adequately identify to traveling motorists going west and east along 96th Street the location of the dealership.Plus,the
addition of a stop light at this intersection will greatly increase visibility of the site. The Department does believe the signs
are well designed and integral for the identification of this business and is in support of five of the six signs proposed. The
design of the building is very modern and the signs are actually modest in proportion to the overall scale of the building.
The Department just feels there is one too many signs for the site.
Petitioner's Findines of Fact—Docket Nos. 13020026-13020027 V:
1. The approval of this variance will not be injurious to the public health,safety, morals,and general welfare of
the community because: the signs are aesthetically pleasing and will not interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
They are meant to identify the business located on this parcel,similar to other businesses along 96th Street.
2. The use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variances will not be affected in a
substantially adverse manner because: signage in this area is diverse and very prevalent because it is a commercial
corridor with similar uses,automobile dealerships in particular. With the various types of signage proposed,it will
blend in and complement the surrounding uses,and will not have a substantially adverse impact on adjacent
properties.
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: vehicle and pedestrian traffic need to be alerted to the use of the property through
the requested signage.The additional signage requested is for information purposes related to the automobile
dealership,and for safety of all patrons when considering the number of cars entering and exiting the site for various
purposes.
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Department's Findings of Fact—Docket No. 13020028 V:
1. The approval of this variance will be injurious to the public health,safety, morals,and general welfare of the
community because: the overuse of signage will not be aesthetically pleasing to the area. The Sign Ordinance was
recently updated to allow for more signage by way of percentages versus maximum areas,and this Petitioner is taking
advantage of the new rules,as they should and are allowed to do.However,by allowing two signs in the same area
that have the same copy,that would be excessive and against the intent of the new Sign Ordinance.
2. The use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variances will be affected in a
substantially adverse manner because: additional signage will give this site more identification than is permitted by
the Sign Ordinance. Other locations in the area have additional signage,but it is due to multiple branding names that
need to be identified. With one dealership name/brand,five signs should be adequate to identify the location.
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:the proposed signage will be adequate for vehicle and pedestrian
traffic to identify the property within enough time to navigate to the site. The elimination additional wall sign will not
cause a patron to not fmd the location of the dealership.
Recommendation:
The Dept. of Community Services recommends positive consideration of Docket Nos. 13020026 V and 13020027 V and
negative consideration of Docket No. 13020028 V.
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