18SN0532
CASE NUMBER: 18SN0532
APPLICANTS: Larae Tucker
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
CLOVER HILL DISTRICT
AND RECOMMENDATION
Board of Supervisors Hearing:
NOVEMBER 15, 2017
Board of Supervisors Time Remaining:
365 DAYS
LARAE TUCKER (214-601-5495)
Planning Department Case Manager:
DREW NOXON (804-796-7122)
1.1 Acres 11200 Hull Street Road
REQUEST
Conditional use to permit an electronic message center (EMC) sign incorporated into a freestanding
sign in a Community Business (C-3) District.
An EMC incorporated into a permitted freestanding sign is planned. The applicant has indicated the
sign will display gas prices.
Notes: A. Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions.
B. Conditions and Exhibits are located in Attachments 1 - 4.
SUMMARY
An additional EMC sign is planned on the subject property. The sign would be located along Genito
Road and would be identical to the existing EMC sign along Hull Street Road (approved by Case
17SN0608).
RECOMMENDATIONS
APPROVAL
PLANNING
COMMISSION
APPROVAL
While sign does not comply with the EMC Policy relative to its location in
STAFF a prohibited area, distance from two (2) nearby EMC signs, and proximity
to residentially zoned property, many similar signs are in use throughout
the County with no known adverse impacts.
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
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Comprehensive Plan
Classification: NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS
The designation suggests the property is appropriate for commercial uses that serve neighborhood-
wide trade areas such as grocery stores, medical clinics and restaurants.
Surrounding Land Uses and Development
Genito Rd
Residential use (Genito
Hull Street Rd
Townes subdivision)
Commercial uses
or vacant
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PLANNING
Staff Contact: Drew Noxon (804-796-7122) noxona@chesterfield.gov
Zoning History
Case Number Request
Conditional use to permit an electronic message center (EMC) sign
17SN0608
incorporated into a freestanding sign. This sign is currently located along Hull
Approved
Street Road in accordance with Exhibit A.
(1/2017)
Proposal
The ordinance permits EMCs, 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 second freestanding sign for a convenience store with gasoline sales.
This sign would be located on Genito Road. The overall sign area would measure approximately
50 square feet, with the EMC component occupying no more than half of the permitted sign area.
The sign would measure 15 feet in height above grade. The sign would be located as generally
shown on Exhibits A and B (Attachments 2 and 3). The applicant has indicated that a portion of
the proposed sign would provide information on gasoline prices as an electronic numerical display.
(Exhibit B, Attachment 3)
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 (Hull
Street Road between Courthouse Road and Route 288)
The sign would be located closer to two other nearby EMC signs. The proposed sign would
be approximately 480 feet from the EMC located at and 11300 Hull Street Road (Billboard
hospital emergency room wait times) and approximately 300 feet from an existing EMC
located on the subject property (1,000-foot separation suggested).
The sign would be located approximately 560 feet from a residentially zoned property
(Genito Townes1,000-foot separation where such
signs would be visible from residential properties.
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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
Limited to numerical display as depicted
Copy Lines
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ћ͵ğ͵ ğƓķ 9ǣŷźĬźƷ .
Twice daily
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 71 feet
Brightness
Require a photocell to adjust sign brightness,
based on ambient light conditions
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ћ͵Ņ͵
Numeric Display of Gasoline Prices
Historically, changeable copy signs displaying numerical gasoline prices electronically were
permitted without conditional use approval, under an interpretation by the Planning Director
finding them similar to the by-right permission in the ordinance for numeric time and temperature
displays. As a result, changeable copy signs displaying gasoline prices electronically did not have to
meet the EMC Policy and the policy was not drafted with those in mind. Today, numerous
changeable copy signs displaying gasoline prices electronically exist in the County.
In September 2015, the County amended Article IV Division 6, Signs as a result of a United States
Supreme Court ruling which prohibited regulation of signs based on content. As a result of that
accordingly, electronic changeable copy signs for gasoline prices now require conditional use and
are, for the first time, subject to the EMC Policy.
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FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Staff Contact: Anthony Batten (804-717-6167) battena@chesterfield.gov
This request will have minimal impact on Fire and EMS.
Nearby Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Facilities
Fire Station The Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad Fire Station,
Company Number 24
EMS Facility The Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad
UTILITIES
Staff Contact: Jamie Bland (804-751-4439) blandj@chesterfield.gov
Installation of the proposed sign will not impact the required use of the public water and
wastewater systems. Please ensure that sign location F is carefully reviewed to comply with the
realignment.
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Jim Banks (804-748-1037) banksj@chesterfield.gov
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Staff Contact: Rebeccah Ward (804-748-1028) wardr@chesterfield.gov
This request will not impact these facilities.
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CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
07/26/17 Application submitted
Planning Commission
10/17/17 Citizen Comments:
No citizens spoke to this request.
Recommendation APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN
ATTACHMENT 1
Motion: Freye Second: Wallin
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.
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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 Exhibits A and B, provided by Blakeway Corporation last revised
June 14, 2016 and Cummings Signs dated October 18, 2016. (P)
2.Electronic Sign. The computer-controlled, variable message, electronic sign shall
conform to the following standards:
a. Copy shall be limited to a numerical display as generally depicted on Exhibit B
and shall not move but may fade;
b. The message or display shall be programmed to change no more than twice
every twenty-four (24) hours;
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 71 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, SIGN LOCATIONS
Existing EMC Sign
Genito Rd
Proposed EMC Sign
Hull Street
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ATTACHMENT 3
EXHIBIT B, SIGN ELEVATION
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ATTACHMENT 4
EXHIBIT C, EMC LOCATIONS AND DISTANCE FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
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