17SN0784The Greater
Southport
Mr. Roy Hawkins Jr.
HCA Johnston -Willis Hospital
1401 Johnston -Willis Drive
Richmond, VA 23235
April 18, 2016
Dear Mr. Hawkins,
Business Association
This letter is to confirm that the board of directors of the Greater Southport Business Association
has reviewed your request for new roadside signage. The sign includes electronic messaging per
the drawings dated 7/21/15 by Holiday Signs.
On April 13, 2016 our board of directors voted to support your request.
In the past we have sometimes opposed electronic messaging but felt that your sign was basically
a static sign that used lights to change the message instead of using hard metal lettering.
We look forward to working with HCA Johnston -Willis Hospital in the future.
Best regards,
Ray Birk
President
Greater Southport Business Association (GSBA)
CASE NUMBER: 17SN0784
APPLICANTS: Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Hospital
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
MIDLOTHIAN DISTRICT
AND RECOMMENDATION
Board of Supervisors Hearing:
NOVEMBER 15, 2017
Board of Supervisors Time Remaining:
365 DAYS
Applicant Agent:
ANN NEIL COSBY (804-775-7737)
CHIPPENHAM & JOHNSTON-WILLIS
30 Acres 1401 Johnston Willis Drive
HOSPITAL (804-775-7737)
Planning Department Case Manager:
DREW NOXON (804-796-7122)
REQUEST
Conditional use to permit an electronic message center (EMC) sign incorporated into a
freestanding sign in Community Business (C-3) and Agricultural (A) Districts.
Notes:
A.Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions.
B.Conditions, sign renderings, sign location and sign prohibition area map are located in Attachments 1 - 6.
SUMMARY
An EMC sign incorporated into a permitted freestanding sign is planned to replace an existing sign
at the northeast corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Johnston Willis Drive. The applicant has
indicated the sign will display emergency room wait times for the Johnston-Willis Hospital facility.
RECOMMENDATION
APPROVAL
PLANNING
COMMISSION
DENIAL
Located within a prohibited area
STAFF
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED ISSUES
Department Issue
Fails to comply with EMC Policy.
Sign located in Chesterfield Towne Center Southport Area Special
PLANNING District.
Sign does not provide the 1,000-foot
Existing sign located at 10601 Midlothian Turnpike, approximately
400 feet from request site.
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Comprehensive Plan
Classification: REGIONAL MIXED USE
This designation suggests the property is appropriate for an integrated mixture of highly
concentrated corporate office, commercial, light industrial/research and development, and higher
density residential uses with public spaces.
Surrounding Land Uses and Development
Single-family
Huguenot
uses
Robious Rd
Park
Heritage
Commons
Koger Center
Single-
Blvd
family uses
Johnston
Avon Park
Willis Dr
Center
View Dr
Healthcare
uses
Commercial
/office uses
Commercial
uses
Midlothian Tnpk
417SN0784-2017NOV15-BOS-RPT
PLANNING
Staff Contact: Drew Noxon (804-796-7122) noxona@chesterfield.gov
Zoning History
Case Number Request
Special exception to permit a hospital and related facilities.
77AN0151
Approved
(7/5/1977)
Conditional use to permit a helipad as an accessory use to a hospital.
16SN0566
Approved
(1/27/2016)
Proposal
The Ordinance permits an EMC, with approval of a conditional use, as a changeable copy sign to be
incorporated into a freestanding sign. The applicant requests approval of a Conditional Use to
incorporate an EMC into a freestanding sign which will replace an existing free-standing sign at the
entrance to the hospital complex. The sign would be located as generally shown on Exhibit E
(Attachment 5). The applicant has indicated that a portion of the proposed sign would provide
information on emergency room wait times, as well as Flu shots and other services provided by
the medical center, as an electronic display. (Exhibits B & C, Attachments 3 & 4)
ions on the placement of EMCs.
request would not comply with the EMC Policy regarding placement:
The sign would be located and visible along a corridor where the EMCs are prohibited
(Chesterfield Towne Center Southport Area Special District)
The sign would be located approximately 400 feet from an existing EMC at the Sheehy Ford
auto dealership located at 10601 Midlothian Turnpike (see map on following page). The
EMC Policy suggests a 1,000-
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The EMC Policy includes additional measures intended to reduce visual impacts of such signs. The
following chart provides an overview of the conditions acceptable to the applicant to mitigate the
impact of the sign on area properties:
Electronic Message Center (EMC) Component Overview
Requirements Details
Maximum of three (3) lines; limited to numerical and
Copy Lines
textual display as depicted
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ћ͵ğ͵ ğƓķ 9ǣŷźĬźƷƭ . ε /
Once every 30 minutes
Frequency of Message Change
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ћ͵Ĭ͵
Prohibited
Sequential, Flashing or Travelling
Messages, Bijou Lighting & Animation
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓƭ Ћ͵ĭ͵Ͳ ķ͵ ğƓķ Ļ͵
Not exceed 0.3 foot candles above ambient light
as measured at a distance of 100 feet
Brightness
Require a photocell to adjust sign brightness,
based on ambient light conditions
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ћ͵Ņ͵
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COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Jim Banks (804-748-1037) banksj@chesterfield.gov
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Brian Lokker (804-674-2384)
FIRE SERVICE
Staff Contact: Anthony Batten (804-717-6167) battena@chesterfield.gov
UTILITIES
Staff Contact: Jamie Bland (804-751-4439) blandj@chesterfield.gov
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Staff Contact: Rebeccah Ward (804-748-1028) WardR@chesterfield.gov
This request will not impact these facilities.
717SN0784-2017NOV15-BOS-RPT
CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
1/30/17 Application and renderings submitted
6/30/17 Revised renderings submitted
Planning Commission
4/18/17 Action DEFERRED TO JUNE 20, 2017
W
6/20/17 Action DEFERRED TO JULY 18, 2017
7/18/17 Action DEFERRED TO SEPTEMBER 19, 2017
MOTION
9/19/17 Action DEFERRED TO OCTOBER 17, 2017
MOTION
10/17/17 Citizen Comments:
One citizen, a member of the Board of the Greater Southport Business
Association, stated support for the proposal.
Commission Discussion:
In response to a question of Mr. Jackson, the applicant confirmed that
messages regarding Flu shots and other healthcare services provided by the
medical center would be displayed in addition to the emergency room wait
times.
Mr. Jones acknowledged the Commissions review of the EMC Policy and
discussions relative to removal of the separation requirements and the
prohibition areas. In anticipation of these possible changes to the EMC Policy,
and given the Greater Southport Business Associations support, he was
supportive of this request.
Recommendation APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN
ATTACHMENT 1
Motion: Jones Second: Freye
AYES: Sloan, Jackson, Freye, Jones and Wallin
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will
consider this request.
817SN0784-2017NOV15-BOS-RPT
ATTACHMENT 1
CONDITIONS
Note: The following conditions are recommended by both the Planning Commission and Staff.
1.The EMC sign shall be located in accordance with Zoning Ordinance requirements and as
generally depicted on Exhibit D. (P)
2.Electronic Sign. The computer-controlled, variable message, electronic sign shall
conform to the following standards:
a. Copy shall be limited to a maximum of three (3) lines; limited to numerical and
textual display as generally depicted on Exhibits B & C, prepared by Superior
Signs and dated 6/29/2017, and shall not move but may fade;
b. The message or display shall be programmed to change no more than once every
thirty (30) minutes;
c. Sequential messaging shall be prohibited;
d. Flashing and traveling messages shall be prohibited;
e. Bijou lighting and animation effects shall be prohibited; and,
f. Brightness shall be limited so as not to exceed 0.3 foot candles above ambient
light as measured using a foot candle meter at a distance of 100 feet. The
computer-controlled, variable message, electronic sign shall have a photocell
that automatically adjusts the brightness according to ambient light conditions.
(P)
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ATTACHMENT 2
EXHIBIT A EXISTING FREE-STANDING SIGN
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ATTACHMENT 3
EXHIBIT B PROPOSED SIGN RENDERING
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ATTACHMENT 4
EXHIBIT C PROPOSED SIGN DIMENSIONS
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ATTACHMENT 5
EXHIBIT D PROPOSED SIGN LOCATION
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ATTACHMENT 6
EMC PROHIBITION AREA
Proposed
EMC
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