HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_ZBA_03.19.2013City of Georgetown
Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting
Minutes
March 1_9, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
101 E. 7th Street, Georgetotn,n, Texas 78626
Members present: Dustin Elliott, Chair; Pat Armour; Porter Cochran; Ellen Davis; and
Joshua Schroeder_
Absent: NA
Staff Present: Andrew Splargin, Planning Director; Mike Elabarger, Senior Planner; Stephanie
McNickle, Recording Secretary
Call to order by Chair Elliott at 5:00 p_rrt. and th+e Order of Hearing Process was read_
This was a regular meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the City of Georgetown_
The Board, appointed by the Mayor and the City Council, acts on requests for variances,
interpretations and special exceptions under the Georgetown Zoning Ordinance_
Order of Hearing Process:
• Staff makes a presentation of the project to the Board;
• The applicant is provided an opportunity to present their project to the Board;
• The Board asks questions of both Staff and the applicant;
• "-Ttte Public Hearing is open, and both proponents and opponents are allowed to speak;
• The Public Hearing is closed and the Board deliberates on the merits of the case; and,
• The Board generates findings to support their decision, a motion is made and
seconded, and a vote is taken on the motion presented.
• Variance approvals require an affirmative vote of 4 members of the Board -
Those who speak please identify yourselves for the meeting record.
Regular Session - To begin no earlier than 5:00 p.m_
(The Board may; at any time, recess the Regular Session to convene an Executive Session at
the request of the Chair, a Board Member, the Director or legal counsel for arty purpose
authorized by the Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Cade Chapter 551_)
1. Action from Executive Session_ There was not action taken.
2. Election of Vice -chair and Secretary for the 2013-2014 Zarting Board of Adjustment.
Motion by Cochran to nominate Pat Armour to serve as Secretary of the 2013-2014
Zoning Board of Adjustment_ Second by Davis_ Approved. (5-0)
Motion by Cochran to nominate Ellen Davis to serve as Vice -chair of the 2013-2014
Zoning Board of Adjustment_ Second by Schroeder. Approved_ (5-0)
3_ Consideration and possible action an the Minutes of the regular Zarting Board of
Adjustment meeting on January 23, 2013. Motion by Davis to approve the minutes utes as
amended. Second by Cochran. Approved. (5-0)
Zoning Board of Adjustment, March 19, 2013 Page 1 of 3
4. Public Hearing and possible action concerning a Variance request for a sixty foot (60')
high governmental flag pole in the Residential Single Family (RS) District at a model
home, exceeding the permitted height of twenty-five feet (25'), per Sections 3.15 aria
10.06.010 of the Unified Development Code (UDC), at 227 Avalanche Avenue. (VAR-2013-
001)
Application pulled at the request of the applicant.
5_ Public. Hearing and possible action concerning a Variance request for a ten foot (10')
freestanding monument sign in the General Commercial (C-3) District, exceeding the
permitted height of five foot (5'), per Sections 3.15 and 10.06.010 of the Unified
Development Code (i_ DC), at 2901 Williams Drive. (VAR-2013-002)
Staff report by Mike Elabarger_ The property owner is requesting a Variance from the
Zoning Board of Adjustment (Board) to permit a sign that exceeds the UDC maximum
height limit (5') by an additional five feet (5'), for a total sign height of ten feet (10'). See
Exhibit 4 for the proposed location of the sign and its relation to existing signs.
Justification provided by the Applicant is that the Taco Bell sign located just west of this
property "may prove to be a visibility hinderance to our proposed monument sign_"
Staff recomr*+ernds denial of the Variance request to Section 10.06.010, Sign Design and
Area Regulations, in the C-3-General Commercial District, to allow a tan 'foot (10')
freestanding monument sign in the General Commercial (C-3) District exceeding the
permitted height of five foot (5'), per Sections 3.15 and 10.06.010 of the Unified
Development Code (UDC), at 2901 Williams Drive, due to the findings of Criteria (1.)
through (7.) as provided above.
It is staff's opinion that the applicant wishes to have a monument sign that is of a higher
visibility (due to height increase) than other existing signs that either meet the Ordinance
or are legal nonconforming. The Applicant has chosen to locate the sign in a position that
is closer to the western boundary, and the referenced Taco Bell sign, than appears
necessary. Staff finds that there is no visual obstruction created by the Taco Bell sign on
the existing, multi -tenant sign from a reasonable distance when travelling east -bound on
Williams Drive. The proposed sign could be placed farther east on the property,
separating itself further from the Taco Bell sign, and lessening any viewing angle that
could possibly create obstruction by the Taco Bell sign.
Staff would advise the applicant to submit a building permit for a sign of a maximum of
five feet (5') tall containing up to sixty-four square feet (64 SF) of sign area.
Chair Elliot invited the applicant to speak. Ann Lewis, Lewis Sign Builders representing
the applicant gave a presentation explaining the reason for the additional height needed
to display their sign. She asked if a berm can be built to place under their five foot sign.
At this time Board member Schroeder recuse himself due to a conflict of interest.
Zoning Board of Adjostroorii, March 19, 20I3
Page 2 of 3
Chair Elliott opened the Public Hearing. No one came forward to address the Board. The
Public I-Icaring was. closed_
Discussion between staff and Board members_
Motion by Cochran for Denial of the Variance request for a ten foot (10') freestanding
monument sign in the General Cornmercial (C-3) District, exceeding the permitted 1--ieight
of five foot (5'), per Sections 3.15 and 10.06.010 of the Unified Development Code (UDC),
at 2901 Williams Drive. Second by Armour. Approved. (4-0)
6. Directors report: Introductory training workshop
Andrew Spurgirn, Planning Department Director reviewed over the Zoning Board
Adjustment application procedures.
7. Adjourned at 6:41 p.m_
Dustin Elliott, Chair
��--At---
Pat Armour, Secretary
Zoning Board of Adjos.[ment, March 19, 2013
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