Agenda

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Item # 6.a.

City Council (FY24)

Meeting Date:	03/26/2024
Department:	Development Services

AGENDA CAPTION:

Present, discuss, and consider action on a request for a Meritorious Exception to Chapter 62 of the Code of Ordinances for Frost Bank, located at 3820 Belt Line Road, in order to allow Frost Bank to construct a detached single-tenant monument sign within the Addison Town Center Special District. (Case MR2024-01/3820 Belt Line Road - Frost Bank).

BACKGROUND:

Frost Bank is currently under construction at 3820 Belt Line Road. The new bank requires a Meritorious Exception to the Town’s Sign Ordinance, in order to construct a new detached monument sign on site. The site is within an existing special sign district, Addison Town Center. This district encompasses approximately 42 acres located at the southeast corner of Belt Line Road and Marsh Lane. The proposed monument sign meets all minimum standards for a detached single-tenant monument sign, including setback, effective area, and cabinet dimensions.

At the January 23, 2024 meeting, City Council approved a Meritorious Exception request (Ordinance No. 24-003) to allow Frost Bank to have a detached single-tenant pole sign. After further consideration, the applicant made the decision to pursue a monument sign in lieu of the previously approved pole sign. This request is for a new Meritorious Exception for a detached single-tenant monument sign.

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.

Staff believes that the hardship criteria of the Meritorious Exception requirements have been met for the proposed detached single-tenant monument sign. The intent of the original sign district was to create a shopping center with unified and cohesive signage, allowing only attached wall signs or centrally located multi-tenant signs. Since its creation, the district has subdivided, changed ownership, and experienced incremental redevelopment. These conditions have led to a lack of cohesion and warrant additional signage opportunities for single-tenant sites.

The applicant is proposing to meet all dimensional requirements for a detached single-tenant monument sign. Additionally, this proposal is consistent with the character of the surrounding area, and strict compliance with the Addison Town Center special district would prevent Frost Bank from constructing any detached signage on their site, which is a common condition in the Belt Line corridor.

RECOMMENDATION:

Administration recommends approval with the following condition:

Upon approval of a Sign Permit per this request, Ordinance No. 24-003 shall be repealed.

Attachments
MR2024-01 Presentation
MR2024-01 Ordinance
MR2024-01 Plans