03SN0199-Feb26.pdfFebruary 2003 CPC
February 26, 2003 BS
STAFF'S
REQUEST ANALYSIS
AND
RECOMMENDATION
03 SN0199
Chesterfield County Board of' Supervisors
Matoaca Magisterial District
East line of Winterpock Road
REQUEST: Amendment to Conditional Use Planned Development (Case 885003) relative to
signage and exceptions to Ordinance requirements.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
The applicant is requesting an amendment to Case 885003 (Textual Statement Item
12, General Conditions) to delete the requirement for sign package approval through
the Planning Commission and exceptions to Ordinance requirements to permit non-
profit organization signs larger than ten (10) square feet in area and five (5) feet in
height and to permit changeable copy to exceed one-half ('/2) the sign face area for
such signs.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMEND APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS ON PAGE 2.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval for the following reasons:
A. The current sign standards of the Zoning Ordinance do not address large planned
communities and do not allow for adequate identification to advertise community
events in such developments.
Providing a FIRST CHOICE Community Through Excellence in Public Service.
B. Eliminating the comprehensive sign package approval would result in signage review
that is consistent with the Zoning Ordinance requirements for other residential
projects.
(NOTE: CONDITIONS MAY BE IMPOSED OR THE PROPERTY OWNER MAY PROFFER
CONDITIONS. THE CONDITIONS NOTED WITH "STAFF/CPC" WERE AGREED UPON BY
BOTH STAFF AND TIIE COMMISSION. CONDITIONS WITH ONLY A "STAFF" ARE
RECOMMENDED SOLELY BY STAFF. CONDITIONS WITH ONLY A "CYC" ARE
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.)
CONDITIONS
(STAFF/CPC) I . A maximum of two (2) signs that advertise community events for the
Birkdale development shall be permitted to contain a maximum of
twenty-five (25) square feet in area and a maximum of eight (8) feet
in height. Such signs may incorporate up to 100 percent changeable
copy. (P)
(STAFF/CPC) 2. The location of the signs identified in Condition I shall be in the
vicinity of the intersection of Royal Birkdale Parkway and Royal
Birkdale Drive and the intersection of Royal Birkdale Boulevard and
Royal Birkdale Drive. (P)
(STAFF/CPC) 3. In conjunction with the approval of this request, Textual Statement
Item 12, General Conditions, Case 885003, shall be deleted. (P)
(NOTE: With the exception of Textual Statement Item 12, General
Conditions, all previous conditions of Case 885003 shall remain in effect for
the subject property.)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location:
East line of Winterpock Road at Bethia Road and the west line of North Spring Run Road,
north of Buck Rub Drive. Tax ID 725-665-7515 (Sheets 15 and 23).
Existing Zoning:
Size:
R-9 with Conditional Use Planned Development
182.3 acres
2 03SNO199-FEB26-BOS
Existing Land Use:
Community recreation and open space area
Adjacent Zoning and Land Use:
North, East, South and West — R-12 and A; Single family residential (including Birkdale
Subdivision), or vacant
UTILITIES: ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC FACILITIES
The requested amendment will have no impact on these facilities.
LAND USE
Comprehensive Plan:
Lies within the boundaries of the Upper Swift Creek Plan which suggests the development is
appropriate for single family residential use of 2.0 dwelling units per acre or less.
Area Development Trends:
Area properties are zoned residentially and agriculturally and are characterized by single
family residences within subdivisions and on acreage parcels, and vacant land. It is
anticipated that residential zoning and land use patterns will continue in the area consistent
with densities suggested by the Plan.
Zoning History:
Signs:
On February 24, 1988, the Board of Supervisors, upon a favorable recommendation from the
Planning Commission, approved a rezoning of a 497.5 acre tract to Residential (R-9) with a
Conditional Use Planned Development to permit residential, recreational and open space
uses, commonly known as the Birkdale development (Case 88S003). With approval of this
request, a condition was imposed requiring a complete development sign package to be
reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. (Textual Statement Item 12, General
Conditions)
The Zoning Ordinance currently permits non-profit organization signs to be eight (8) square
feet in area and five (5) feet in height. These signs may be increased to ten (10) square feet if
changeable copy, not exceeding one-half ('/Z) the total area of the sign face, is incorporated
into the sign face. Representatives of the Birkdale Community have indicated that this size
limitation precludes adequate announcement of community events, given the development's
size and provision of recreational amenities. This request would permit this sign area to be
03SNO199-FEB26-BOS
increased to a maximum of twenty-five (25) square feet, and the height to be increased to
eight (8) feet. Further, the changeable copy portion of such signs would not be limited to a
percentage of the total sign area. Recommended conditions would limit the number of these
signs to two (2) and would limit their location to inside the entrances to the Birkdale
development off of Winterpock and Spring Run Roads. (Conditions I and 2)
Conditions of zoning require that a comprehensive sign package be approved by the Planning
Commission prior to the installation of any sign in the Birkdale development. Current
Zoning Ordinance standards do not require that residential communities obtain sign package
approval. Eliminating this requirement would result in signage review that is consistent with
the Zoning Ordinance requirements for other residential projects. (Condition 3)
CONCLUSIONS
The regulations identified in the County Sign Ordinance are designed, in part, to promote maximum
legibility of signs and to prevent their over -concentration as well as excessive height, bulk and area.
These standards, however, do not adequately address the needs of large planned communities that
rely upon signage to advertise community events. Conditions, as recommended, would restrict the
size and location of such signs to be compatible with the surrounding development and to minimize
visual distractions to motorists along both Winterpock and Spring Run Roads by locating such signs
interior to the development.
Further, eliminating the requirement for a comprehensive sign package approval by the Planning
Commission would result in signage review that is consistent with the Zoning Ordinance
requirements for other residential projects.
Given these considerations, approval of this request is recommended.
CASE HISTORY
Planning Commission Meeting (2/18/03):
The applicants' representative accepted the recommendation. There was no opposition
present.
On motion of Mr. Stack, seconded by Mr. Cunningham, the Commission recommended
approval of this request subject to the conditions on page 2.
AYES: Unanimous.
The Board of Supervisors, on Wednesday, February 26, 2003, beginning at 7:00 p.m., will take under
consideration this request,
03SNO199-FEB26-BOS
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