BOA 01/26/2012 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Board of Adjustment January 26, 2012 Page 3 figures the site would be allowed 200 square feet of signage and if the building could be turned, the site would be allowed 174 square feet of signage. He said Waffle House is only requesting 142 square feet of signage which is less signage than is allocated for the site based on the building set back lines. Mr. Petersen said they are not requesting a special privilege but the right to have adequate signage. Mr. Petersen read the following portion of the City Code: "Premises notimproved with buildings. Anypremises not improved wifh a building may display grounds signs with an aggregate sign area of two square feet for each linear foof of building frontage which would be allowed to be developed under the Unified Land Development Regulations of the City of Casselberry". Mr. Petersen said he could construct 200 square feet of signage on the vacant parcel; however, if a business is constructed and operating on the site only 50 square feet of signage is allowed. Mr. Petersen said that a hardship exists due to the location of the retention pond and it is an infill project. He said the literal interpretation of the Code would deprive them of the right to have that signage forthe property and itwould place an undue hardship on the property itself because of the lack of visibility and identity. He said that the property remaining vacant causes an undue hardship on the property owner and the area. Mr. Petersen said 50 square feet of signage for a business would be a severe disadvantage to any other business out there. Mr. Petersen said a typical Waffle House sign package is about 240 square feet of signage and he is requesting a 142 square feet of signage. He felt that 142 square feet was the minimum needed to move forward with the building to make the investment to revitalize the site and feel that Waffle House would have an opportunity to compete against other restaurants in the area. He said the reasonable use is defined if someone is willing to use the site. Mr. Petersen said it is not injurious to the public welfare. He said the development regulations allow for at least 200 square feet of signage for this particular property given the available building linear footage that could be built on that property. He said the future land use plan calls out this particular property as a restaurant use. He said it is not detrimental to the welfare because it is returning viability to a long vacant lot which could also provide a boost for the shopping center itself. Mr. Petersen said that the shopping center is approximately 50% vacant, He said development of this site would also increase the property values for the surrounding properties, increase jobs in the City and increase sales tax and property taxes, Mr. Petersen said they are not using the typical architecture on the building because it is within the City's Community Redevelopment District and due to that signage becomes more critical, He said that the Waffle House is a 24 hour business and to be viable it needs to draw customers in during the hours when most businesses are closed.