Agenda

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Item # 5.

Council Meeting

Meeting Date:	06/08/2021
Department:	Development Services

AGENDA CAPTION:

Present, Discuss, and Consider Action on an Ordinance Granting a Meritorious Exception to Chapter 62 of the Code of Ordinances for Vitruvian West Phase II, Located at 3725 Vitruvian Way, in Order to Allow a 2,376.2 Square-Foot Mural on Portions of the East and South Facades.

BACKGROUND:

Vitruvian West Phase II is the second of three multi-family apartment buildings known as Vitruvian West, located at the northeast corner of Marsh Lane and Vitruvian Way. The applicant, UDR, Inc., has substantially completed this phase and is requesting a Meritorious Exception to the Town’s Sign Ordinance in order to complete a mural spanning two adjacent facades at the southeastern portion of the building, visible from Vitruvian Way.

The proposed mural is defined as an attached sign by the Town’s sign ordinance. With this mural encompassing 2,376.2 square-feet in effective area (45 feet and 11 inches tall and 51 feet and 9 inches wide), this sign is well in excess of the area requirements prescribed for attached signs. The applicant is pursuing a Meritorious Exception to the sign ordinance based on the below code provision:

Town of Addison Code of Ordinances, Chapter 62 (Signs)
Section 62-33. – Meritorious exceptions.
(d)(3) The council may consider appeals on the basis that such regulations and/or standards will, by reason of exceptional circumstances or surroundings, constitute a practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship or on the basis that the proposed improvement although falling under the definition of a "sign," constitutes art that makes a positive contribution to the visual environment.

The applicant’s mural is not commercial in nature, and instead highlights key elements of our state heritage, the northern mockingbird and bluebonnets. The design builds on the bluebonnet theme that began with the previously approved parking garage mural for Vitruvian West Phase I, and honors the color palette of the Vitruvian West development. In addressing the eastern façade, the applicant provided two options, Option A which paints over the existing cementitious panels, and Option B which preserves the current condition of those panels.

Staff believes that the proposed mural constitutes art that makes a positive contribution to the visual environment of the surrounding area, with Option A for the eastern mural façade best meeting this Meritorious Exception approval criteria.

RECOMMENDATION:

Administration recommends approval, with Mural Option A preferred for the east facade.

Attachments
Ordinance - Meritorious Exception for Vitruvian West Phase II Mural
Presentation Case MR2021-0005-Vitruvian West Phase II Mural Meritorious Exception
Meritorious Exception Request - Vitruvian West Phase II Mural