In 2018, Make-A-Wish Foundation purchased the building located at 16803 Dallas Parkway to serve as their regional headquarters.
On August 27, 2018, the tenant’s sign contractor contacted staff inquiring about the Town’s Sign Ordinance and specific requirements for this property, as well a proposal for two attached wall signs and a monument sign. On August 28, 2018, it was communicated to the sign contractor that the proposed letter/logo heights for one of the attached walls signs would be out of compliance with the Town’s regulations. Since then, staff has been in communication with the sign contractor as well as the tenant with regard to this sign proposal.
The Sign Code, Chapter 62 of the Code of Ordinances, regulates attached signage as follows:
Section 62-163. – Area.
(5) Maximum letter/logo height of attached signs shall not exceed twice the allowable effective area as specified in subsections (1) and (2) of this section. The street curb referenced in Schedule B shall be the street curb closes and/or adjacent to the property where the sign is to be installed. Maximum letter/logo height of attached signs shall be determined by Schedule A or Schedule B as follows:
Schedule A:
| Sign Height Above Grade (Feet) |
Maximum Letter/Logo Height (inches) |
| 0-36 |
16 |
| 37-48 |
36 |
Schedule B:
| Horizontal Distance of Sign From Street Curb (feet) |
Maximum Letter/Logo Height (inches) |
| 100-149 |
24 |
| 150-199 |
27 |
| 200-249 |
30 |
b. Not more than 50 percent of the letters in each individual sign height category in Schedules A and B may be 25 percent taller than the specified maximum letter/logo height.
The sign Make-A-Wish has proposed is 44 feet above grade and is setback about 190 feet from Dallas Parkway. Based on this, it is most advantageous for Make-A-Wish to utilize Schedule A, which would require letter/logo heights of up to 36 inches tall with an allowance that 50% of the letters to be up to 45 inches tall. All of the letters, with the exception of the letter/logo "A", are proposed at 36 inches tall, and the letter/logo "A" is proposed at 58.75 inches tall. While the letter heights of 36 inches meet the Sign Code requirements for attached signage, the "A" letter/logo does not comply. The proposed letter/logo does not comply with the height requirement set forth in Sign Code Ordinance Section 62-163, exceeding the allowed letter/logo height by 13.75 inches. This equates to a 30% increase in size from what is allowed by the Code.
The applicant is requesting a meritorious exception to install the sign as proposed, with the 58.75 inch tall letter/logo, on the south facade.
Staff believes that the ordinance intends for the logo to be viewed as one cohesive unit and not separated as requested by Make-A-Wish. The Code states that meritorious exceptions should be considered on the basis that the Town's standard requirements, "by reason of exceptional circumstances or surroundings, constitute a practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship." Staff understands the desire for brand visibility, but believes that the ordinance provides Make-A-Wish other options for displaying their sign in other locations that would be more visible and not require a meritorious exception. |