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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Sign Board Minutes 2011-03-01 RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Regular Meeting of the Estes Park Creative Sign Design Review Board March 1, 2011, 10:30 a.m. Board Room, Estes Park Town Hall Board: Chair Art Blume, Vice-Chair Jeff Moreau, Members Joe Calvin, Charley Dickey, Diane Muno Attending: Chair Blume, Vice-Chair Moreau, Members Calvin, Dickey, Muno Also Attending: Interim Director Chilcott, Planner Shirk, and Recording Secretary Thompson Absent: None The following minutes reflect the order of the agenda and not necessarily the chronological sequence. The meeting was called to order at 10:30 a.m. This being the first meeting of the Creative Sign Design Review Board, Interim Director Chilcott introduced the members and their term lengths: Joe Calvin, local architect, two-year term; Jeff Moreau, local general contractor, three-year term; Art Blume, citizen at large, three-year term; Diane Muno, local retail business owner, one-year term; Charley Dickey, citizen at large, one-year term. Interim Director Chilcott explained that in order for the term expiration dates to be staggered, the appointments also needed to be staggered. After the initial term expires, any subsequent terms will be for three years. Interim Director Chilcott stated the Board meetings would be video-recorded for viewing by the public through the Town website. 1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Interim Director Chilcott read the Officer’s responsibilities. The position of Chair, Vice-Chair and Recording Secretary are elected at the first meeting of each year. The Recording Secretary shall not be a member of the Board. It was moved and seconded (Dickey/Moreau) to nominate Member Blume to serve as Chair for 2011 and the motion passed 4 – 0. Member Blume abstained. It was moved and seconded (Muno/Calvin) to nominate Member Moreau to serve as Vice- Chair for 2011 and the motion passed 4 – 0. Member Moreau abstained. It was moved and seconded (Moreau/Muno) to nominate the Administrative Assistant of the Community Development Department to serve as Recording Secretary for 2011 and the motion passed unanimously. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT None. 3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN PARK INN WALL SIGN HEIGHT VARIANCE REQUEST Members Moreau and Calvin recused themselves from the Board for this review. Chair Blume noted a quorum was three members; therefore, a quorum had been met. Planner Shirk reviewed the staff report. The purpose of the variance request was to allow a wall sign with a maximum height of 33-feet in lieu of the 25-foot limit required in the Estes Park Municipal Code. The applicant’s property is located at 101 S. St. Vrain Ave. The proposed sign would replace a sign that was issued a permit in June, 1983. The property owner has changed the name of the hotel, and desires to change the sign. Planner Shirk stated the sign had been installed, but the content was currently covered. Technically, it is not a sign until the content is uncovered. The sign review was coordinated with the Division of Building Safety. The permit was issued to install the sign, cover the content, and remove it as soon as possible if the variance was not approved. Planner Shirk stated the Board should keep in mind the following criteria when reviewing the variance request: (a) There are special circumstances or conditions, such as the existence of buildings, topography, vegetation, sign structures or other matters on adjacent lots or within the adjacent public right- of-way, which would substantially restrict the effectiveness of the sign in question; provided, however, that such special circumstances or conditions must be particular to the particular RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Creative Sign Design Review Board 2 March 1, 2011 business or enterprise to which the applicant desires to draw attention and do not apply generally to all businesses or enterprises. (b) The variance is in general harmony with the purposes of this Chapter, and specifically is not injurious to the neighborhood in which the business or enterprise is located. (c) The variance is the minimum one necessary to permit the applicant to reasonably draw attention to the business or enterprise. Planner Shirk stated that special circumstances for this Board are very broad. In this case, staff found that special circumstances exist. The setback from Highway 7 is substantial, the surrounding topography, vegetation, and nearby structures combine to create special circumstances that would restrict the effectiveness of the sign if the height variance were not granted. Staff found the requested variance would not be injurious to the neighborhood. The proposed sign would be attached to an existing structure, would be internally illuminated, and would not extend above the roofline. Staff recommended the Board use their best judgment to determine if the variance was the least amount necessary to alleviate the special circumstances associated with this property. Planner Shirk stated staff received correspondence from one interested party, who was opposed to the height variance. Staff recommended approval of the variance request, with two conditions: 1) compliance with the sign design as approved by the Board; and 2) provide a signed and stamped height certificate, to be completed by a registered land surveyor. Staff and Member Discussion Planner Shirk clarified that the sign installation was allowed as a convenience to the applicant. The applicant was aware of the consequences if the variance was not approved. In this case, the applicant was willing to take the risk of installing the sign prior to approval. Interim Director Chilcott stated the application was submitted prior to the creation of this Board. Member Dickey asked and received clarification on the criteria for other items considered special circumstances (vegetation, building structures). Other comments were made concerning the limited visibility of the proposed sign. Public Comment: Jay Gerdes/Applicant stated he measured the installed sign with a surveyor’s pole and reported the top of the covered sign was 31-feet, which was actually two-feet lower than the requested variance. The original height was based on a survey completed with snow on the ground. Mr. Gerdes stated the proposed sign was actually lower than the former Holiday Inn sign. He displayed a conceptual drawing of what the sign would look like if installed at the maximum allowable height of 25 feet. Chair Blume requested this drawing become part of the record (Exhibit A). Interim Director Chilcott stated the official height measurement would be taken from the sidewalk, per the sign code. Member Dickey asked about the applicant certification. Interim Director Chilcott stated at this time there are no specific procedures in place for public notification for this Board. Staff used the application and notification process of the Estes Valley Board of Adjustment (EVBOA) for this Board, and the Board will need to discuss what specific procedures they want to put in place. Mr. Gerdes stated the proposed sign is back lit and more subtle than the former sign. Planner Shirk stated the application is for a maximum height of 33 feet. Anything less would still be compliant. Cory Blackman/Local accommodations manager commented that the currently installed sign was higher than allowed. He stated this variance does not have a direct bearing on his business, but he was concerned about a precedent being set if the sign did not comply with the sign code. Staff and Member Discussion Member Dickey stated his site visit found that St. Vrain was the only place you could see the sign. He did not think height came into play with the visibility of the proposed sign. He expressed his disappointment with the creativeness and legibility of the proposed sign. Conditions 1. Compliance with the sign design, as approved by the Board. 2. Height Certificate. A registered land surveyor shall provide to the Community Development Department a signed and stamped certificate that specifically verifies that the sign complies with the approved variance, and shall specifically delineate the sign height. This certificate shall be submitted no later than March 31, 2011. Failure to submit this certificate within the required timeframe shall automatically render the variance approval null and void. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Estes Park Creative Sign Design Review Board 3 March 1, 2011 It was moved and seconded (Muno/Blume) to approve the requested variance with the findings and conditions recommended by staff. The motion passed 2 – 1. Members Blume and Muno voted in favor, Member Dickey voted against. 4. REPORTS Interim Director Chilcott reported there will be a study session tentatively scheduled for March 15, 2011, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Members will have the opportunity to discuss Board procedures and other concerns. Town Attorney White will review legal matters involving the board. A public meeting notice would be posted. Interim Director Chilcott reported there is no meeting scheduled for April. Member Dickey questioned whether or not a Chair Pro-tem was required. Staff determined a pro- tem shall be named at each meeting requiring one. Staff reported that once an application is received and determined to be complete, the Board would be notified of an upcoming meeting. The Creative Sign Design Review Board would follow the current time schedule for the Estes Valley Board of Adjustment. Interim Director Chilcott reviewed the procedures for site visits by Board members. In response to Member Dickey’s question, Interim Director Chilcott stated there would typically be three types of issues to come before the Creative Sign Design Review Board; 1) an appeal of a staff decision regarding any staff interpretaion of the current sign code. The Board decision would set the precedent as to how the code would be interpreted in the future; 2) a special circumstance that would require a variance greater than what staff is allowed to determine; and 3) the creative sign program, which was new and the decisions would be very subjective with each application. Signs of unusual quality and character that do not fit with the current sign code standards of 50 square feet or less would be included in this type. Planner Shirk stated this Board would be a decision-making body, and any appeals would be heard by the Town Board. Interim Director Chilcott suggested a study session prior to the first creative sign program application review. Staff continues to work on a creative sign program handbook, which could be discussed with the Board prior to implementation. There being no further business, Chair Blume adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m. ___________________________________ Art Blume, Chair ___________________________________ Karen Thompson, Recording Secretary