BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING

REGULAR MEETING                              

JANUARY 14, 2008

 

CALL TO ORDER

The January 14, 2008, regular meeting of the Lake Havasu City Board of Adjustment was called to order by Chairman Bergen at 9:00 a.m.

 

ROLL CALL

Members Present:        Donald Bergen, Scott Chapman, Diane Klostermeier, Tony Simonis, Bert Berschauer, Donald Callahan, Greg Pedersen (alt)

 

Members Absent:        None.

 

Staff Present:              Dan Kassik, City Planner

Larry Grzesiowski, Planning Technician

Jean Vinson, Recording Secretary 

 

MINUTES

Mr. Callahan made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 10, 2007, meeting as written. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Klostermeier and carried unanimously.   

 

CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mr. Kassik said staff has no announcements. Mr. Grzesiowski said that there is nothing scheduled for a meeting at this time; however, an application has been submitted and might be placed on a future agenda.

 

Mr. Bergen said he attended the Board of Adjustment seminar in Phoenix and he now has prepared a rolodex for his use to keep the meetings procedurally correct. He said that the Board has certain criteria which allows the approval of a request for a variance, including topography and a hardship which is not self-imposed by the property owner.

           

PUBLIC HEARING

 

08-01300013 – TRACT 2392, BLOCK 1, PARCEL E; 5501 HWY 95 N. A REQUEST FOR A ZONING VARIANCE TO SECTION 14.38(TABLE 3-5) OF THE LAKE HAVASU CITY SIGN CODE TO ALLOW 717 SQUARE FEET OF TOTAL SIGNAGE, WHEREAS THE CODE WOULD ALLOW 348 SQUARE FEET OF TOTAL SIGNAGE. THE REQUEST IS FOR WALL SIGNS TO BE PLACED ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE BUILDING. DILLARD’S DEPARTMENT STORES, OWNER/ARCHITECTURE +, KIRK MILLER, APPLICANT.  

 

Mr. Grzesiowski stated that this is a request for a sign variance for the Dillard’s store at the new mall site and is very similar to previous requests by other new stores. The Dillard’s is located on the south side of the mall site, and is similar to the other major stores. However, Dillard’s is more unique because it has only two frontages on public rights-of-way. The other roadways are private roads and the code does not allow any signage on private roads. Dillard’s has entrances on all four sides and they are handicapped for signage by the way the building is sited. There is a large parking lot to the east, to the south is a major road and parking, the west side has parking and is on a private road. The north is on the main driving and pedestrian corridor of the mall where no signage is allowed by code. They are requesting additional signage because of these reasons. He showed an aerial view of the property.

 

Mr. Kirk Miller, Architecture +, 300 Washington St., Ste. 300, Monroe, LA 71201, applicant, said he has nothing to add to staff’s presentation. He believes the proposed signs are appropriate for the site and the building since there are major entrances on all four sides.

 

Mr. Callahan asked if all of the signs are interior lit can signs. Mr. Miller said they are.

 

Mr. Bergen opened the meeting to the public. No one spoke.

 

Mr. Grzeswioski stated that the findings of staff are as follows: 1. The granting of the requested variance would not have an adverse effect on adjacent properties. 2. The subject building, having two entrances which face thoroughfares maintained by the developer as private roadways, creates a hardship in regard to allowable signage which is not self-imposed. 3. The other large retailers with similar issues regarding size and orientation to Highway 95 North have been awarded additional signage; therefore, the granting of the proposed variance would not constitute the awarding of a special privilege. Based on these findings, the Development Review Committee recommends that 08-01300013 be approved.

 

Mr. Callahan made a motion that 08-01300013 be approved as submitted with staff’s findings. The motion was seconded by Mr. Simonis and carried unanimously on a roll-call vote.

 

CALL TO PUBLIC

None.

 

FUTURE MEETING

Mr. Grzesiowski said the members will be notified on the next meeting date.

 

Mr. Simonis asked about the signage on the building on Mesquite Avenue. Mr. Grzesiowski said he looked into that matter. Huffman Chiropractic is allowed 41 square feet of signage and has reduced the size of the sign on the side of the building. The other applicant has two units, two business licenses and two businesses. They are allowed 34 square feet for each unit and they are legal. 

 

Mr. Callahan asked if the signs on the west side of the building are legal. Mr. Grzeswioski said they are.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 a.m.

  

_________________________________________

Donald Bergen, Chairman

 

 

_________________________________________

Jean Vinson, Recording Secretary