Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

VA-18-08-106 — DANIEL SMITH

Request: Variance in the P-D zoning district to allow 233 sq. ft. of wall sign copy area in lieu of 88 sq. ft. (The BZA amended the request and approved 184 sq. ft. of wall signage in lieu of 88 sq. ft.).

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The applicant is proposing two walls signs for their proposed restaurant. The parcel is located in the Little Lake Bryan PD and within the Tourist Commercial Signage overlay district. The proposed sign on the primary frontage equates to 137 sq. ft. including the name of the restaurant and the faux window. The sign of side façade is 96 sq. ft. The applicant has two existing free-standing signs on site. Staff presented the location, site photos, proposed sign elevations, and explained how the copy area was calculated. Staff recommended denial of the request as there were no special circumstances and the applicant has two existing free-standing signs. The applicant stated this is their first location in the Orlando area and the signage is vital to their branding. They mentioned that the proposed signage is much less than they have on their other stores nationwide. Staff received one commentary in favor of the request and none in opposition. No one spoke at the public hearing regarding the request. The BZA and the applicant had a discussion and determined that if the faux window were removed on the primary frontage that would lower their overall square footage and still provide them with the sign area necessary. The BZA concluded that by removing the faux window and reducing the square footage that the request was acceptable. The BZA stated the front façade must not exceed the 88 sq. ft. allowed and they would also allow the additional sign on the side of the building (96 sq. ft.). The BZA approved the amended request to allow 184 sq. ft. of wall signage in lieu of 88 sq. ft.