Zoli’s NY Pizza is an existing restaurant, located at 14910 Midway Road. The business has been operating since 2017. The applicant contacted staff to request new signage and staff determined that the proposed attached sign did not comply with the Town’s sign code.
The proposed attached sign is 36 inches tall and 180 inches long, with an effective sign area of 45 square feet. The bottom of the sign will be situated approximately 20 feet above grade. The sign letters are 30 inches tall, and the logo is 36 inches tall. The sign includes the business name and logo and will be internally illuminated with white LED lights.
The applicant is seeking a meritorious exception to allow the proposed attached sign to exceed the maximum permitted letter/logo height. Per the Sign Code, the maximum permitted letter/logo height is 16 inches, with up to 50 percent of the sign letters permitted to be up to 25 percent taller, achieving a maximum height of 20 inches. The proposed 36-inch-tall sign exceeds the maximum height requirement by 16 inches.
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.
Zoli's ownership has shared their belief that the Midway Road Revitalization Project has created a hardship for their business. While major roadway projects do impact adjacent businesses and residents, infrastructure maintenance is an essential duty of municipalities. More appropriate justification for a hardship related to this request is its location as the southernmost Addison property at the east frontage of Midway Road. As you traverse further south in the corridor you see much larger, more visible signage on Farmers Branch properties, which makes the current sign on the Zoli's west facade appear poorly scaled and out of character with the eastern frontage of the Midway corridor. The proposed sign is appropriately scaled for the building and the corridor, and will provide additional visibility from Midway Road.
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