Board of Zoning Appeals

BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS MINUTES SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 The Board of Zoning Appeals met on Thursday, September 13, 2007, at 5:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 45 E. Broad Street, Cookeville, Tennessee. MEMBERS PRESENT: Larry Burgess, Tracy Cody, Kay Detwiler, Jane Flatt, and Sid Gilbreath. STAFF PRESENT: James Mills and Jayne Barns. OTHERS PRESENT: Tony Nash. CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 9 2007. Sid Gilbreath made the motion to approve the minutes of August 9, 2007. Tracy Cody seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A 14’ REDUCTION IN THE FRONT YARD SETBACK REQUIREMENTS FOR 1 MONUMENT SIGN LOCATED AT 1345 NEAL STREET. REQUEST SUBMITTED BY TONY NASH ON BEHALF OF AVERITT EXPRESS INC. James Mills stated that Mr. Tony Nash of the Sign Shop, on behalf of Averitt Express, Inc., has submitted a request for the reduction of the setback from street right-of-way requirement for one (1) proposed monument sign on the Averitt Express property located at 1345 Neal Street. Averitt Express has developed a plan to redo the signage for its complex located on Neal Street. At the July 2007 meeting the Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance to reduce the minimum setback for two (2) monument signs at the Averitt Express site. In this appeal they are requesting that the setback be reduced by fourteen (14) feet for a third sign to be located in front of the newly constructed call center at 1345 Neal Street. The minimum setback requirement from street right-of-way for monument type signs is fifteen (15) feet. Monument signs are freestanding signs that occupy an area between two (2) and eight (8) feet above street level. A primary reason for the setback requirement of fifteen (15) feet for these monument signs is to insure that the ingress-egress visibility of vehicular traffic is not impaired. Mr. Nash suggests that due to excessive street right-of-way the variance is necessary to allow adequate visibility of the proposed sign. The submitted petition indicates that the proposed sign has the characteristics of an on-site directional sign and would have a height of only five (5) feet and a width of six and one-half (6.5) feet. Compliance with the required setback would place the proposed sign at approximately 45 feet from the existing street curb. According to Mr. Nash approval of the requested variance would place the leading edge of the sign at 31feet from the street curb. The proposed variance appears to meet the general standards specified by the Zoning Code for approval. With a setback of no less than 31 feet from the street curb approval of the requested variance should not create a vehicle safety issue. Staff recommended approval of the request. Tracy Cody made the motion approved the request, subject to compliance with all other applicable provisions of the Cookeville Zoning Code. Sid Gilbreath seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. APPROVED. ADJOURNMENT: 5:18 P.M. SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL SUBMITTED FOR RECORDING _____________________________ _____________________________________ JAYNE BARNS CPS JANE FLATT, CHAIRMAN PLANNING ASSISTANT BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS