Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-18-02-168 — VANESSA MORALES

Request: Variance in the C-3 zoning district to permit wall signage to extend above the roofline for all the tenants in the shopping center. Note: According to the Property Appraiser's information, the center was constructed in 1980. The design of the building consists of a mansard roof beginning eight feet above the grade of the finished floor elevation of the building.

Decision: Denied

Hearing: Staff explained that the existing structure was constructed in 1980. The architecture was no longer commonly used, and did not lend itself to signage. Staff could not support the request as it could set a precedent for similar designed structures. It was noted that all of the signage on the building was not installed through building permits. Staff concluded with a recommendation that the building be modified by adding an extension to the parapet wall to provide a surface on which to affix signage in compliance with the Code. The applicant explained that the existing building is old, and that the tenants would be negatively impacted without the requested signage. Physically altering the building could be costly, and may result in unanticipated expenses. The owner of the building requested that the BZA give them a time to keep what signage is in place and to design the necessary improvements to properly place the signage upon. No one was in the audience to speak for or against the request, and the public hearing was closed. The BZA discussed the possibility of granting a variance for specific period to allow the existing signage to remain until the building could be altered to make an acceptable area to affix signage in compliance with the code. However, when it was established that none of the existing signage had been permitted, and all of it was electrified, the decision to deny the request was reached. A motion to deny the variance was passed unanimously.