18SN0545
CASE NUMBER: 18SN0545
APPLICANTS: The Rebkee Company
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
CLOVER HILL DISTRICT
AND RECOMMENDATION
Board of Supervisors (BOS) Hearing:
FEBRUARY 28, 2018
BOSTime Remaining:
365 DAYS
BRIAN FENWICK (301-542-8002)
PAUL SPROUSE (804-419-0747)
2.4 Acres 12441 Hull Street Road
Planning Department Case Manager:
DREW NOXON (804-796-7122)
REQUEST
(Amended) Conditional use to permit a computer-controlled, variable message, electronic sign (EMC)
incorporated into a freestanding sign in a Regional Business (C-4) District.
Notes: A. Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions.
B. Conditions and Exhibits are located in Attachments 1 - 3.
SUMMARY
An EMC sign incorporated into a permitted free-standing sign is planned. The sign would be located
on Hull Street Road and would be used by a proposed gas station on an outparcel within the
Bridgewood Crossing development. The applicant has indicated the sign will display gas prices.
RECOMMENDATIONS
PLANNING APPROVAL
COMMISSION
APPROVAL
While sign does not comply with the EMC Policy relative to its location
STAFF
in a prohibited area, 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: REGIONAL MIXED USE
The Plan 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
Hull Street Rd
Commercial uses
Aldi
Bridgewood
Crossing
commercial
development
Lonas Pkwy
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PLANNING
Staff Contact: Drew Noxon (804-796-7122) noxona@chesterfield.gov
Zoning History
Case Number Request
Rezoning from A, R-9, R-TH, O-2, and C-3 to C-4 with Conditional Use to permit
95SN0197
outside storage, multi-family residential and townhouse residential uses.
Approved
(5/1995)
Amendment of Cases 95SN0197 and 97SN0162 relative to buffers, access
97SN0239
restrictions and density.
Approved
(7/1997)
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 for a convenience store with gasoline sales. The
applicant has indicated that the EMC portion of the proposed sign would provide information on
gasoline prices limited to an electric numerical display (Exhibit B, Attachment 3). Freestanding
outparcel signage is limited to 20 square feet in area (increased to 25 square feet with changeable
copy) and eight (8) feet in height. As proposed, the sign (measuring approximately 23 square feet
in area and 8 feet in height) would comply with these limitations. The sign would be located on Hull
Street Road as generally shown on Exhibit A (Attachment 2).
EMC Policy
request would not comply with the EMC Policy regarding placement because the sign would be
located and visible along a corridor where EMCs are prohibited (Hull Street Road between
Courthouse Road and Route 288). While the sign does not comply with the EMC Policy relative to
its location in a prohibited area, many similar signs are in use throughout the county with no
known adverse impacts.
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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 EMC on area properties:
Electronic Message Center (EMC) Component Overview
Requirements Details
Limited to numerical display as depicted
Copy Lines
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Њ͵ğ͵ ğƓķ 9ǣŷźĬźƷ .
Twice daily
Frequency of Message Change
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Њ͵Ĭ͵
Sequential, Flashing or Travelling Prohibited
Messages, Bijou Lighting & Animation /ƚƓķźƷźƚƓƭ Њ͵ĭ͵Ͳ ķ͵ ğƓķ Ļ͵
Not exceed 0.3 foot candles above ambient light
as measured at a distance of 50 feet
Brightness
Require a photocell to adjust sign brightness,
based on ambient light conditions
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Њ͵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 subject to the EMC Policy.
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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, the applicant is reminded that signs are not permitted within water and
wastewater easements.
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Jim Banks (804-748-1037) banksj@chesterfield.gov
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Staff Contact: Anthony Batten (804-717-6167) battena@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
08/07/17 Application submitted
10/18/17 & Application amended
12/29/2017
12/28/17 Revised sign rendering submitted
Planning Commission
10/17/2017 Action
11/21/2017 Action
1/16/18 Citizen Comments:
No citizens spoke to this case.
Recommendation APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONDITIONS IN
ATTACHMENT 1
Motion: Jackson Second: Freye
AYES: Sloan, Jackson, Freye, Jones and Wallin
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will
consider this request.
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ATTACHMENT 1
CONDITIONS
Note: The following conditions are recommended by the Planning Commission and Staff.
1.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,
provided by MJH Project, Inc., dated December 21, 2017, 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 50 feet. The
computer-controlled, variable message, electronic sign shall have a photocell that
automatically adjusts the brightness according to ambient light conditions. (P)
2.The sign shall be located as generally depicted on Exhibit A, provided by Rummel Klepper
& Khal, LLP last revised August 24, 2016. (P)
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ATTACHMENT 2
EXHIBIT A, SIGN LOCATION
Proposed EMC Sign
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ATTACHMENT 3
EXHIBIT B, SIGN ELEVATION
(Submitted 12/28/2017)
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