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03282012-188CITY OF ORANGE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR MINUTES – FINAL March 28, 2012 Staff in Attendance: Rick Otto, Zoning Administrator Doris Nguyen, Associate Planner Diane Perry, Recording Secretary Public Hearing: 3:00 p.m. NEW ITEM: 1. VAR No. 2216-12 – TOYOTA OF ORANGE-SIGN PROGRAM A request to install 4 wall signs and 1 freestanding monument with the following Variances: a. Freestanding monument: sign area and sign height. b. Wall signs: number of signs on one elevation and sign height of the Toyota logo and letters. 1400 N. Tustin Street Staff Planner: Doris Nguyen, 714-744-7223, dnguyen@cityoforange.org ZA Action: Final Determination ______________________________________________________________________________ The Zoning Administrator (ZA), Rick Otto, called the meeting to order Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at 3:12 p.m. for New Item No. 1 – VAR No. 2216-12, Toyota of Orange-Sign Program, which is a request to install four wall signs and one free-standing monument with the following Variances: (a) freestanding monument - sign area and sign height; and (b) wall signs - number of signs on one elevation and sign height of the Toyota logo and letters . The property is located at 1400 N. Tustin Street. Associate Planner, Doris Nguyen, presented a project overview consistent with the Zoning Administrator Agenda Item Report. The ZA asked Staff to summarize the rational for approving the Variance for the monument sign. Ms. Nguyen stated research was done on other car dealerships and most had Variances for taller signs. Therefore, it was considered fair to consider the Variance for this car dealership. For example, Villa Ford has 48-foot and 30-foot tall signs; Selman Chevrolet has one estimated over 60-feet tall; Ford of Orange is 59-feet tall; and Stadium Nissan is 39-feet tall; all are above the 15-foot Code requirement. The ZA asked if all of the above-mentioned car dealerships, except Selman, had Variances on file. Ms. Nguyen replied “yes,” except Selman, due to its age. Research did show, however, that according to Code they were outright permitted at the time when it was constructed. The ZA asked Staff to summarize the Design Review Committee’s (DRC) concern with the pylon nature of the sign, raising the sign up. City of Orange – Zoning Administrator Meeting Minutes for March 28, 2012 Page 2 Ms. Nguyen replied the sign was originally a large solid mass, but then the City required that the sign stand on two pillars instead so that vehicles could see between them. Originally, the sign was closer to the street but the City required the applicant to cut a hole between the poles for driver visibility from the driveway and also pulled it back to address that concern. Ms. Nguyen confirmed that the applicant was fine with both of these requirements. The applicant’s representative, Jessica Jimenez, Swain Signs, address on file, commented that there were 6-foot and 12-foot setbacks from the private driveway and public right-of-way respectively. Ms. Nguyen also stated the DRC discussed different ways of raising the bottom of the sign to get within the square footage area, but the panels were prefabricated to be a certain size and the City wouldn’t allow them to place the address on the poles. Therefore, in order to add the address below, they had to add an extra set of panels which made it larger. The ZA confirmed with Staff that there were currently seven existing wall signs but now the applicant was going to have only four new wall signs. The ZA asked Staff if the number of signs was okay, and was it the total area that the Variance was requested for. Ms. Nguyen stated there are two different sets of Codes for this project. According to the Orange Municipal Code (OMC), the number of signs is a 100% increase; they are permitted to have two signs because of the width of the building, and they are proposing four. Then, according to the Tustin Street Design Standards (TSDS), they are requesting additional sign height for the Toyota logo and lettering. Therefore, a Variance is needed for the number of signs from the OMC and also for sign height from the TSDS. The ZA asked if there was a Variance for having the existing seven signs. Ms. Nguyen confirmed “no.” The previous Variance was only for the signs on top of the parapet, which have since been removed. It also included an additional sign on the parapet, and it was for the size and number of signs. The ZA opened the Public Hearing and asked if the applicant’s representative had any questions and/or comments. Ms. Jimenez stated Ms. Nguyen did a wonderful job explaining everything in the Staff Report. The applicant, Vicky Murphy, Toyota of Orange, address on file, commented that Ms. Nguyen had done a great job working on this project. Public Comments: None. The ZA closed the Public Hearing. City of Orange – Zoning Administrator Meeting Minutes for March 28, 2012 Page 3 The ZA confirmed with Staff: (a) the ZA was the final determining body since the DRC had already reviewed the project; and (b) that there are four Variances to approve (1) free-standing sign, (2) sign area, (3) number of signs, and (4) sign height. The ZA approved the four Variances under VAR No. 2216-12, Toyota of Orange-Sign Program, based on the findings as listed in the Staff Report, summarized below; and including the recommended conditions also contained in the Staff Report. Findings: 1. Special circumstances apply to these properties that make the strict application of the Zoning Code to not be in the best interest of the situation. 2. The Variance shall be subject to such conditions which will assure that the authorized adjustments shall not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations upon other properties in the vicinity and zone in which subject property is located. ADJOURNMENT: The ZA adjourned the Public Hearing at approximately 3:22 p.m.