12/04/2008 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The applicant submitted a memo requesting their variance be tabled until January 2009 due to scheduling conflicts. Mrs. Sergi moved, seconded by 1VIs. Rudolph, to table Welcome House of 29778 Lorain Road until the January 2009 meeting, which was unanimously approved 4-0. Aldi's; 4694 Great Northern Blvd Request for variance (1123.12). The proposal consists of a new Aldi grocery store The following variances are requested: 1. A variance for 44 off street parlcing and loading spaces; code requires 957 @ 5 per 1,000 sq ft applicant shows 913, section 1161.05. Current parking count is 781 striped, 45 Landbanlced and 87 to be stripped (shown on SP-8) totaling 913. 2. A variance for exceeding allowable lot coverage; code permits 25% applicant shows 28%, section 1139.05. A 2 foot variance for a wall sign higher than code allows; code permits 4' applicant shows 6' section 1163.28 C. Mr. Kerr of Atwell-Hicks, Mr. McClure of Aldi Food Marlcet and Mr. Glazer of B&G Properties were sworn in. Mr. Kerr said the parking space variance is for 44 spaces which are unattainable on the site. The required parking spaces are calculated for the entire shopping center not just for the new building. The applicant's aerial photo showed the current layout of each building. The new building will follow the front setback of the existing Cort Furniture building. The sign variance is needed for the 5 foot wide 6 foot tall corporate logo being used in lieu of the 100 square foot sign allowed. The Aldi letters within the logo are approximately 12 to 14 inches tall and visibility from the street will be minimal. The ground sign provides visibility for passing traffic and the wall sign/logo identifies the Aldi building itself to internal traffic. The total square footage of the logo is 30 square feet which is less than a third of what they are allowed by code. Aldi's stores usually have two wall signs and a corporate logo however at the pre- submission meeting staff encouraged them to eliminate all but one wall sign. They chose to use the coiporate logo which was incorporated into the architectural design of the building. Mrs. Diver felt that as a ground sign was provided the wall sign should meet city codes. Mr. Ken said their hardship is that their logo is vertical and the existing signage on the site is so much larger than the logo if it is decreased any further Aldi's store will be unidentifiable. Mrs. Rudolph asked if the new building would eliminate existing parking spaces. Mr. Kerr said six spaces would be lost and said that there would be no cart corrals in the parlcing lot which saved parlcing spaces. There would be one corral at the front entrance leaving the parking lot cart free. Mrs. Sergi felt that it would malce more sense to have a 100 square foot sign with 4 foot letters then having a logo which does not meet code. Mr. Kerr again pointed out that the logo was part of the architectural design of the building which creates the main entrance to the store. Ms. Rudolph questioned the setbaclc distance and Mr. Mitchell said the storefront was at least 200 feet from the right of way. Mrs. Sergi aslced if they would ever request a second wall sign for the building. Mr. McClure said that their standard buildings have two food marlcet signs and two building signs. At the request of the city they removed both food marlcet signs and a building sign. The logo being used on the building is a world wide trademarlc for Aldi. Mrs. Diver aslced if the logo could be made smaller. Mr. McClure said the wording within the logo 2