18SN0781
CASE NUMBER: 18SN0781 (AMENDED)
APPLICANTS: Pilot Travel Centers, LLC
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
BERMUDA DISTRICT
ADDENDUM
Board of Supervisors (BOS) Hearing:
SEPTEMBER 26, 2018
BOS Time Remaining:
365 DAYS
JESSICA LEE SUTHERLAND (804-649-3225)
Planning Department Case Manager:
DREW NOXON (804-796-7122)
10.7 Acres 2126 Ruffin Mill road
REQUEST
(AMENDED) Conditional use to permit an electronic message center (EMC) sign incorporated into a
freestanding sign in a General Business (C-5) District.
An EMC incorporated into an existing 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.THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THIS CASE INCORRECTLY NOTED THE INCLUSION OF A CONDITIONAL USE PLANNED
DEVELOPMENT FOR SIGN SETBACKS. THIS PORTION OF THE REQUEST WAS PREVIOUSLY WITHDRAWN BY THE
APPLICANT PRIOR TO ADVERTISEMENT. THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS
CORRECTION.
SUMMARY
The sign would be located on Ruffin Mill Road and would be used to display gasoline prices for an
existing tractor trailer service station. The EMC would be incorporated into a free-standing sign
structure.
ADDENDUM
The purpose of this addendum is to recognize an error in the public notice which included a
request for Conditional Use Planned Development (CUPD). The applicant withdrew this CUPD at
the August 21, 2018 Planning Commission hearing, however the public notice was not corrected to
reflect this withdrawal.
The Planning Department continues to recommend approval for the reasons noted in th
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
218SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT-ADD
CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
4/3/2018 Application submitted
7/9 & Application amended
8/3/2018
Planning Commission
6/19/18 ACTION - DEFERRED TO JULY 17, 2018 ON THE COMM
7/17/18 ACTION - DEFERRED TO AUGUST 21, 2018 ON THE COMM
8/21/18 Citizen Comments:
No citizens spoke to this request
Recommendation APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT
1
Motion: Stariha Second: Freye
AYES: Jackson, Freye, Jones and Stariha ABSENT: Sloan
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will
consider this request.
318SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT-ADD
CASE NUMBER: 18SN0781 (AMENDED)
APPLICANTS: Pilot Travel Centers, LLC
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
BERMUDA DISTRICT
STAFF
AND RECOMMENDATION
Board of Supervisors (BOS) Hearing:
SEPTEMBER 26, 2018
BOS Time Remaining:
365 DAYS
JESSICA LEE SUTHERLAND (804-649-3225)
Planning Department Case Manager:
DREW NOXON (804-796-7122)
10.7 Acres 2126 Ruffin Mill road
REQUEST
(AMENDED) Conditional use to permit an electronic message center (EMC) sign incorporated into a
freestanding sign in a General Business (C-5) District.
An EMC incorporated into an existing 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 - 3.
SUMMARY
The sign would be located on Ruffin Mill Road and would be used to display gasoline prices for an
existing tractor trailer service station. The EMC would be incorporated into a free-standing sign
structure.
RECOMMENDATIONS
APPROVAL
PLANNING
COMMISSION
APPROVAL
While sign does not comply with the EMC Policy relative to its distance
STAFF from two (2) nearby EMC signs, many similar signs are in use throughout
the County with no known adverse impacts.
Satisfies Ordinance requirements for area, height and setbacks.
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
218SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT
Comprehensive Plan
Classification: INDUSTRIAL
The designation suggests the property is appropriate for moderate to intense manufacturing uses
generally dependent upon processing of raw materials and uses normally have outside storage areas.
Surrounding Land Uses and Development
I-95
Ruffin
Single-family
Mill Rd
residential uses
Industrial/warehousing uses
Woods
Commercial
Edge Rd
Uses
318SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT
PLANNING
Staff Contact: Drew Noxon (804-796-7122) noxona@chesterfield.gov
Zoning History
Case Number Request
Rezoning to Light Industrial (M-1)
86SN0028
Approved
(3/1986)
Rezoning to General Business (C-5)
99SN0280
Approved
(8/1999)
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 an existing travel center, which includes a
convenience store, restaurant and gasoline sales. The overall sign area would measure
approximately 62.4 square feet, with the EMC component occupying no more than half of the
permitted sign area. The sign would measure 12 feet in height above grade, and would be located
as generally shown on Exhibit A (Attachment 2). 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 comply with all provisions of the EMC Policy except that the sign would be located
closer than 1,000 feet to two other EMC signs located at the Colonial vehicle dealership (2300
Walthall Center Drive) and the Priority vehicle dealership (2121 Ruffin Mill Road), as shown on the
following page.
418SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT
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 81 feet
Brightness
Require a photocell to adjust sign brightness,
based on ambient light conditions
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ћ͵Ņ͵
518SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT
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.
UTILITIES
Staff Contact: Jamie Bland (804-751-4439) blandj@chesterfield.gov
The proposed sign and foundation are to be re-located outside the easement in a location to be
ensured by a licensed surveyor per the revised proposal.
The proposed revised re-location of the sign is acceptable to the Utilities Department.
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Jonathan Phillippe (804-674-2560) jonathan.phillippe@vdot.virginia.gov
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Steven Adams (804-751-4461) adamsst@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.
618SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT
CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
4/3/2018 Application submitted
7/9 & Application amended
8/3/2018
Planning Commission
6/19/18 ACTION - DEFERRED TO JULY 17, 2018 ON THE COMM
7/17/18 ACTION - DEFERRED TO AUGUST 21, 2018 ON THE COMM
MOTION WITH THE APPLICAN
8/21/18 Citizen Comments:
No citizens spoke to this request
Recommendation APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT
1
Motion: Stariha Second: Freye
AYES: Jackson, Freye, Jones and Stariha ABSENT: Sloan
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will
consider this request.
718SN0781-2018SEPT26-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 Exhibits A and B, provided by Integrated Image. (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 81 feet. The
computer-controlled, variable message, electronic sign shall have a photocell
that automatically adjusts the brightness according to ambient light conditions.
(P)
818SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT
ATTACHMENT 2
EXHIBIT A, SIGN LOCATION
918SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT
ATTACHMENT 3
EXHIBIT B, SIGN ELEVATION
1018SN0781-2018SEPT26-BOS-RPT