07/06/1995 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Sportmart, 27260 Lorain Road. Request for variance (1123.12). Request 203 square foot variance for excess sign area over the maxrimum signage allowed for a business unit. Request 303 square foot variance for excess sign area over the maximum sign.age allowed for a business building wall sign. Request 4 foot 5.5 inch variance for excess height of a wall sign. Violation of Ord. 90-125, Section 1163.11(c) and 1163.12(a). Chairmlu Gomersall called all interested parties before the board. The oath was administered to Ms. Ricchio, representing Sportmart. Mr. Papandreas and Mr. and Mrs. Herbster had been swom in previously. Ms. Riccluo explained that there was a correction since an 85.5 inch dimension had been misread as 8 foot 5 inches for the height of the sign, the correct height of the sign is 7 feet. Mr. Gareau clarified that this "S" is.what is 7 feet. Mr. Papandreas advised that he met with Mr. Bis, the sign inspector, and he was using the 8.5 foot height. The sign is 7 foot high and 43 feet, 7.5 inches across and would be 304 square feet, instead of 378 square feet which would reduce the height variance to 3 feet. The arclutectural review board had recommended that the logo be removed. They had recommended that the long line crossing the "T" be eliininated. The board did not have the motion on tlus sign, and Ms. Ziegler stated that the board did not make eliminating the crossing of the "'T" a stipulatiou, only a recommendation. The members have no problem with the cross on the "T". Ms. Ricchio pointed out that the "S" and the two "T's" are 7 feet high, but smaller letters are only half that size. She believed that they needed the logo because it was part of their national image since it gives the cousumer an idea of what they sell. She advised that they have two types of logos, a box logo which they are requesting at this location and a sculptured, or free-form, logo wluch removes the box and reduces the square footage. The members agreed that 7 foot letters were too high. Ms. Ricchio noted that the store is set back a great distance from the major thoroughfare. Mr. Papandreas stated that the Radisson Inn sigu has 6.5 foot letters and he asked that the board take into consideration the field that the sigu is on and the overall size of the shopping center. Law Director Gareau stated that it is difficult to see the sigus froin Dover Center because of the other buildings. Mr. Parrague,.,Media Play, was sworn in at this time. It was clarified that their letters were 6 feet high and the sigus are not depicted correctly on the elevations. Mr. Papandreas agreed that there was no clean site lines and the grouud sign inserts were quite small, but it was their belief that it would be better to place the signs on the building rather than to clutter the area at the street. The Dover Center site lines are momentary glimpses at best because of the other buildings along the street which is one reason they are supporting the size of the signs. He believed that the Sportmart sign works well in relationship to the large store front system, and if it were down sized, it would look out of place and not in keeping with good signage principles. Mr. Herbster believed that the Rooney building would be coming down. Mr. Papandreas stated that they had been working ou that, but it has not been executed at tlus time, and he has to assume that it is going to stay. Mr. Parrague pointed out that many people who shop these stores are not fainiliar with the area and having illegible signage would be a disadvantage. 1VIs. Ricchio stated that they are new in the area so there is no identification in the Cleveland area. Mr. Papandreas noted that the "MC" of MC Sporting goods is 6 feet high and with the sportiug goods below would be over 7 feet high. Ms. Ricchio stated that the perception would not be that of a 7 foot high sigu, since only the first aud last letters are 7 feet, the other letters are about half of that. Mr. Herbster stated that they are using the distance from Lorain Road as a reasou they need the large signs, but this is a self imposed hard ship, since the developers opted to put the building at an angle to Lorain Road. Mr. Gareau questioned if they reduced the large letters, what size would the smaller ones be. This would be up to the owner. Ms. Riccluo advised that tlus was their corporate image so they would have to reduce the smaller letters to maintain that, but she still stated that total impact of the sign would not be greater than Circuit City's. Ms. Ziegler scaled out the smaller letters to 3 foot high. Ms. Ricchio believed that, if these letters were 7