HomeMy WebLinkAbout397-BA1
DATE: May 1, 1997
TO: Board of Adjustment
FROM: Stephen C. Richardson, Planning Director
SUBJECT: Request for a special exception for an owner identification sign in the front yard of
property in an HI (Heavy Industrial) District.
FILE: 397-BA
M1311CMIEM
The Planning Director recommends approval of the special exception for the following
reasons:
• The office complex was constructed prior to the adoption of the ordinance requiring
setbacks for commercial structures or signs;
• The 3' x 8' masonry monument sign identifying the tenant's location at 87 IH- 10 N.
in Regents Park 11 (rear building) will not adversely affect the value or use of adjacent
properties; and
• This request is not contrary to the public interest.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
Notices Mailed to Property Owners: 10
Responses in Favor: Responses in Opposition:
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
Being Tracts 6 1 -F and 6 1 -G out of Tract 61, Tax Plat C-6, Noah Tevis Survey, Beaumont,
Jefferson County, Texas, containing a total of 5 acres, more or less.
SPECIAL EXCEPTION SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FORM
CITY OF BEAUMONT
(CODES SECTION 30-37 E.2.)
1. INDICATE WHICH SPECIAL EXCEPTION IS BEING REQUESTED:
(a.) To reconstruct, extend or enlarge a building occupied by a nonconforming use on the
lot or tract occupied by such building, provided that the reconstruction, extension, or
enlargement does not prevent the return of the property to a conforming use.
(b. 1) An exception from the front yard requirements where the actual front yard setback
of an abutting lot does not meet the front yard requirement or a rear yard exception
where the actual rear yard setback of any four (4) or more lots in the same block do
not meet the rear yard requirements of these regulations.
(b.2) A yard exception on corner lots.
(b.3) An exception where the existing front yard setbacks of the various lots in the same
block are not uniform, so that any one of the existing front yard setbacks shall, for a
building hereafter constructed or extended, be the required minimum front yard
depth.
(b.4) x An exception from the minimum front yard requirements for owner identification
signs where a structure existing at the effective date of this Chapter precludes locating
a sign in compliance with the setback regulation.
(b.5) An exception from a minimum interior side yard setback requirement for owner
identifications signs for existing businesses which were developed prior to April 1,
1981, where there is no safe place to erect a sign in compliance with the minimum
setback requirements. A condition for granting of the exception is that the applicant
must demonstrate that the sign shall not screen or obstruct the view of all existing
sign, building, or outdoor display area.
(b.6) An exception from the minimum side yard setback requirement where a
nonconforming building was in existence at the time of the passage of this ordinance.
(c.)— To waive or reduce off-street parking and loading requirements when the Board finds
the same are unnecessary for the proposed use of the building or structure for which
the special exception request applies.
(d.) To grant an exception for ten (10) additional feet in height for an advertising sign,
when in the Board's judgement, the sign at a lower height will block an existing sign
or structure from view or itself be blocked from view.
2. SUBMIT A LETTER EXPLAINING WHY THE GRANTING OF THIS SPECIAL
EXCEPTION BY THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT WILL NOT P�
ADVERSELY
THE VALUE AND USE OF ADJACENT OR NEIGHBORING PROPER SION
CONTRARY TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST, The applicant has the burdeq'burden.r
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APPLICANTS SIGNATURE:- DATE: 7
A P R 4 1-906
PROJECT INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS
The owners of Regents Park I and 11 completed a half million dollar renovation of the
property and grounds in 1995. Presently the occupancy rate of the office complex is 98%,
and there are 40 various tenants and firms.
The Packard and Packard Law Firm, tenants of Regents Park 11, wish to have the
identification sign to help clients locate their suite. The proposed sign would be located 18
feet from the curb of the service road, which is 4 feet from the property line. The sign
ordinance requires a setback of 10 feet.
The ordinance allows owner identification signs in the commercial and industrial districts to
reach a total height of 50 feet. The proposed ground monument sign will only be 3 feet in
height and no poles or pylons will be used.
Address signs are exempted from the regulations of the sign ordinance (Chapter 28) but are
restricted to a total area of 3 square feet. There is no total square footage required in the
district for owner identification signs; however, the applicant is proposing a sign area of only
24 square feet.
The owners considered placing the sign inside the planter box in the middle of the north
driveway but were afraid of potential damage to the sign from truck traffic. The shrubs inside
the narrow planter box have been damaged by trucks over the years.
Other locations with a 10 foot setback along the freeway frontage were considered.
However, each alternative proved ineffective because existing trees, telephone poles, a fence
and other signs blocked the view of the sign.
The proposed sign will actually lie 18 feet from the curb of the service road and will cause no
sight obstructions.
For the reasons cited above, the granting of this special exception will not adversely affect the
value and use of neighboring properties nor will it be contrary to the public interest.
NOTE: The Board of Adjustment granted a special exception in 1995 for a 4' x 10' monument
sign which lies 2 feet from the front property line and 16 feet from the curb. The proposed
monument sign lies just north of that sign and south of the main driveway serving the
complex.
Exhibits are attached.
April 14, 1997
Planning Division, Room 210
City Hall, 801 Main Street
Beaumont, Texas 77701
Dear Chairman:
This letter is in reference to the enclosed application. This variance request is submitted in
order for us to install a 3 foot high by 8 foot long brick monument sign in a location that would
be functional as an identification sign. This sign is for Packard & Packard, which is located at
87 IH-10 North.
Regents Park 1 (85 111-10) is located approximately 40'-6 1/4' from the curb of Interstate 10
access road. There is 14' of State right-of-way from the curb to the projects property line. If
we came off the property line we would be 18' from the curb. In this location we feel the sign
would be safe, functional and in an attractive position.
Enclosed are some drawings and legal descriptions to help you better understand our request.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter. We look forward to hearing your decision.
Sincerely,
Michael Barnett
Property Representative
, 1-FY OF BEAUMONT
PLANNING
DIVISION
C c.-I I f E. AD
APR 14 lq%
GENERAL INFORMATION/PUBLIC UTILITIES
APPLICANT: Mike Barnett, property representative
PROPERTY OWNER: UNUM Life Insurance Company of America
STATUS OF APPLICANT: Agent for Regents Park, Section I and 11
LOCATION: 85 and 87 IH-1 ON.
EXISTING ZONING HI (Heavy Industrial) District
FLOOD HAZARD ZONE: X C (Minimal) A (100 year)
B (Moderate) Floodway
SIZE OF PROPERTY: 5 acres
EXISTING LAND USES: Two office buildings - Regents Park 1 (39,000 sq. ft.)
and Regents Park 11 (41,000 sq. Ft.)
SURROUNDING ZONING:
HI (Heavy Industrial)
Hi
GC -MD (Gencral Conunercial-Multiple Family Dwelling)
SURROUNDING USES:
NORTH: Restaurants, apartments
EAST: IH-10 N. service road and freeway
SOUTH: Beaumont High ditch, Plaza-10
commercial complex & hospital
WEST: Woods, Hillebrandt Bayou
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN:
OTHER PHYSICAL
FEATURES:
STREETS:
DRAINAGE:
WATER:
SANITARY SEWER
SERVICE:
FIRE PROTECTION:
Hi
Activity Corridor (freeway)
Service road elevation is lower than that of the subject
property.
Interstate Highway 10, south bound service road-,
right-of-way and pavement width varies.
Storm sewers and ditches.
N/A
N/A
Fire protection is provided by Station #10, 3855
Washington Boulevard.
ADEQUACY
OF SERVICE: Present services and utilities are adequate.
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