05/01/2008 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Note: Permit # 52656 was issued on 4/10/08 for 1 identical wall sign on this building. Prior to the applicant being called forward Mrs. Sergi recused herself from the discussion of the request. Mr. Beeman with Wagner Signs, Mr. Gamble Vice President of Kaplan Furniture, Mr. Kaplan the Owner and Mr. Fausel with Watch Fire LED Signs each came forward to be sworn in and address the request. Mr. Beeman said the owner would like a second wall sign and to be allowed to have a variable message display system on the conforming ground sign. The building previously housed Sofa Express which had two wall sings in the same location which they would like to be allowed to match. The proposed sign will match the existing height, size and color of sign which is in place along the west side of the entrance canopy. The entrance canopy is designed so that the sign can not be seen by traffic coming from the opposite direction i.e. west bound traffic can not see the east side and east bound traffic can not see the west side of the canopy. He noted that Sofa signs were about 99 square feet and Kaplan's are approximately 55 square feet. The existing ground sign will be removed and replaced with a smaller sign which will meet zoning codes however they would like to utilize a variable message display system which is not allowed by code. It would be controlled by a computer software program within the store. The code states that signs can not flash however the ground sign will not flash and the proposed type are used by the Federal Highway Administration all the time to give directions and relay safety messages. While the software is capable of providing flashing messages that flashing can be controlled by the software. There sign will have paxameters which can be set to regulate the size, content and movement in/out or up/down. The sign can convey messages such as time and temperature like gas price changers. Ms. Rudolph questioned the documentation which states the text would be changed every 20 seconds. Mr. Beeman said that the changing rate was something negotiable. Billboards used by O.D.O.T. are set at 8 second turnovers which they deem safe. Mr. Menser asked what was meant by chasing/flashing. Mr. Beeman said the flashing is controlled by a flasher. A photo presentation showing what the applicants consider to be flashing/chasing signs within the sign industry was shown. Mr. Gamble reviewed that their business was established in 1936 and said that they would not be leasing the building they purchased it and to be competitive they need the ability to advertise. Currently they spend $25,000 a month per store for advertisement and to be competitive with other furniture stores in the area he has to be able to reach customers at a lesser expense. They are flexible in the 20 second time change they just want to be able to advertise. Their hardship is their cost for advertisements in local papers which affects their bottom line. Mr. Beeman said the ground sign would not affect neighboring owners or the neighborhood. The owners are just trying to improve the site and had no knowledge of the zoning codes until they tried to pull the sign permits. He questioned if the violation was that it is LED lights or if it flashes it is against code. Mr. O'Malley advised the board to not try to answer such questions. Mr. Beeman did not believe that the type of sign they are proposing is any different from older signs which involved having someone manually changing the sign, they can just change it from within the store like the gas stations now have. Ms. Rudolph asked if there would be any flashing and chasing characters or would it just entail changing script which will change every 20 seconds. Mr. Beeman said there would be no flashing or chasing lights and they would work with the city on the timing of the words changing even the way they change. He would like to have the messages drop in for 10 to 20 seconds then slide out and another drop in which is all controlled by the software.