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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-6-97 BA MinutesBOARD OF ADJUSTMENT November 6, 1997 City Council Chambers A meeting of the Board of Adjustment was held on November 6, 1997 with the following members present: Board Member Bob Harris Board Member Chuck Mason Board Member Glenn Bodwin Board Member Lamar Roach Board Member Alvin Cook Board Member Joe Ashy Board Members absent: Board Member Dohn LaBiche Board Member Mary Jowers Also present: Stephen Richardson, Planning Director; Murray Duren, Senior Planner; Tyrone Cooper, First Assistant City Attorney, Maria Trapp, Planning Technician and Jill Cole, Recording Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board Member Roach made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 2, 1997 Board of Adjustment Public Hearing. Board Member Ashy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 5:0. SWEARING IN OF WITNESSES PUBLIC HEARING 1) File 402-BA- A request for a setback and area variance regarding a proposed owner identification sign for a church in a RM-H (Residential Multiple Family Dwelling -Highest Density) District. Location: 2955 S. Major Drive Applicant: St. John Lutheran Church Mr, Richardson told the Board the request is for variances to the setback requirement and to the maximum allowable size of a proposed sign at St. John's Lutheran Church at 2955 S. Major. The setback request is from the required 25 feet to I foot and the size request is from the maximum allowed of 20 square feet to 150 square feet. BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT November 6, 1997 As stated by the church, the new sign at the proposed location and of the proposed size is to allow for better identification of the new church building. They feel that once the improvements are made to S. Major Drive that because of the speed along the street that they need a sign of this size and at this location to be seen for church identification. Staff feels that Conditions A-C have been met. Twenty-six notices were mailed to property owners within 200 feet of the subject property. No responses in favor or in opposition were returned to staff. (Board Member Mason arrived.) Slide presentation and a discussion of improvements to be made to Major Drive followed. Board Member Harris, acting as Chairman, opened the public hearing and asked for the applicant's comments. Fred Heiner, Planning Committee Chairman of St. John Lutheran Church, the applicant, addressed the Board. He explained that the additional area was needed to incorporate the larger letters that can be read from a major highway at 55 mph across a wide utility casement and open ditch drainage. Mr. Heiner said that the need to incorporate the sign into the parking lot and raise it above parked cars was necessary to maintain the usefulness of the property due to the City's additional land purchase. He maintained that the sign is tastefully designed and will blend well with the building and surrounding neighborhood and will not be a hindrance to traffic. Discussion between staff and board members regarding signage and when the church was notified that they would be losing the additional 10' of frontage on Major Drive followed. Board Member Harris, acting as chairman, asked for comments in favor or in opposition. No comments were made. Board Member Harris closed the public hearing. Board Member Mason made a motion to approve the variance request to the size and setback requirements for the church sign as requested in File 402-BA. Discussion between Board Member Roach and Mr. Richardson followed. Mr. Richardson said that the specific use permit for the church was approved in May 1996 and that the site plan approved by Council showed 20 feet of roadway that was to be acquired by the City. An additional 10 feet was acquired later for a total of 30 feet. Mr. Richardson introduced Gladys Allen, Real Property Manager for the City of Beaumont. Mrs. Allen was sworn in as a witness. Mrs. Allen said that the acquisition offer for the additional 10 feet was made to the church on October 28, 1996 (after the specific use permit and site plan were approved.) PA BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT November 6, 1997 Discussion between board members followed about the additional 10' that the church lost that they didn't know they were going to lose when the specific use permit was approved and how it affected their signage. Board Member Ashy seconded the motion to approve the variance request to the size and setback requirements for the church sign as requested in File 402-BA. Discussion between the Board members followed. Board Member Roach said he was opposed to the size of the sign, not the setback. Board Member Harris suggested that Mr. Mason revise his motion and separate the size and setback requests. Board Member Mason made a motion to approve the construction of the sign with a P setback. Board Member Ashy seconded the motion. Motion to approve carried 6:0. Board Member Mason made another motion to approve the size of the sign, Board Member Ashy seconded the motion. Motion to approve the size of the sign failed 3:3. More discussion between Board Members followed. Board Member Harris reopened the hearing so that Mr. Heiner could comment. Mr. Heiner asked if it would please the Board if instead of sitting atop a brick wall, the sign sat atop two columns so that the bottom was open and landscaped. There was additional discussion between Mr. Heiner and the Board regarding sign specifies. Board Member Ashy asked Mr. Richardson to repeat the section of the sign ordinance dealing with square footage. Mr. Richardson said that signs in a residential district shall not exceed 20 square feet. Board Member Mason said that the Board needs to give the applicant some feedback on what the Board would approve. Mr. Duren reminded the Board that they can approve a variance for less than 150 square feet. Board Member Ashy said that he felt the applicant needed to redesign the sign and come back before the Board. Board Member Mason said that he will submit a resignation letter later, but resigned verbally from the Board of Adjustment as of today. He said that he felt the Board has lost sight of their purpose and needs to aid development in Beaumont and not impede it. Board Member Ashy requested that the Board stay after the meeting today for a discussion. OTHER BUSINESS THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED. 3