The Board of Zoning Appeals met on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Mr. Monnett, Mr. Blevins, Mr. Cavanaugh and Mr. Matrana.
ROLL CALL/DETERMINATION OF QUORUM
Mr. Carlucci administered the roll call.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Monnett made a motion to approve the January 17, 2005 minutes of the Plainfield Board of Zoning Appeals as submitted. Second by Mr. Blevins. Motion carried.
OATH OF TESTIMONY
Mr. Daniel administered the Oath of Testimony.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Mr. Matrana reviewed the Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Public Hearings. The first matter before the board tonight is BZA-05-001 concerning Stanley Bassett.
Mr. Carlucci said Stan Bassett’s property, as you know, is located at 706 W. Main Street. If you go to the project description, it states it fairly clearly. The maximum sign surface area of 146 square feet is existing, 182 square feet is what is being proposed where there is 100 square feet that is allowed. So, you have a 146 square foot sign that is going to go to 182 square feet and 100 square feet is the maximum allowed on that site. Height of the sign is 25 foot tall existing and a 26-foot tall sign is being proposed with a setback of 10 feet from the right-of-way and a 16-foot setback is required.
The only thing that I would add to this is a lot of the sign in terms of increasing of the square footage is not necessarily because of the foot in height, it is filling in between the posts. With that I will answer any questions that you might have.
Mr. Matrana asked, is this like an integrated center sign or something like that?
Mr. Carlucci said I don’t know if it is in this case. It’s under one ownership. I believe there are six units in the front building and he has his original building in the back but in terms of the sign requirements I don’t know if that is a correct term at this point but again I think what Mr. Bassett is not necessarily asking for it to be four feet higher. The site already exists. There is a setback issue but I don’t think it is possible for him to move that, it might be, but I don’t think it is possible with it being 10 feet from the right-of-way to a 16-foot setback. I don’t know if that would put it in the driveway or not or the parking lot. The right-of-way line is U.S. 40. Again, most of the increase is filling in the side from the bottom of the sign further down although they are asking for a top of the sign, The Bassett Center.
Mr. Stanley Bassett at 932 Corey Lane, Plainfield said on our premises I think we actually qualify to be an integrated center now. The sign requirements are only 35 feet in height but we don’t want to take the height up and we don’t want to change the outer structure of the sign. What we want to do is just move the center sign up and fill in the two sides. We want to put a cap on it with our name. The sign is illuminated but the cap will not be. It will be like the glow in the dark but it will not be lit with lights. Why this came about is when we built the center out front, we didn’t promise anybody that they could be on the sign but since we filled the facility rather quickly what we found out is we have a lot of elderly people coming there. They are missing the facility and they are going by and having to turn around and come back. It is happening daily so that is what prompted me to get something out there, if we can.
Mr. Matrana asked, is there anyone in the audience who would care to speak for or against this matter? Being no one coming forward the public portion of this meeting is closed and I will open this up for a possible motion or further discussion.
Mr. Cavanaugh said although the request is outside the ordinance it increases the area of a sign that is already outside the ordinance and it is a reasonable request. Other accommodations are not feasible to support this and it does create a more aesthetically pleasing sign. So, I would move to approve the Variance of development Standards of the sign regulations BZA-05-001 filed by Stanley Bassett to permit the renovation and enlargement of an existing pole sign located at 706 West Main St, Plainfield subject to the following conditions:
The sign shall be in substantial compliance with the sign and landscape plan file dated February 9, 2005.
Second by Mr. Mr. Blevins. Roll call vote called.
Mr. Monnett – yes
Mr. Blevins – yes
Mr. Cavanaugh – yes
Mr. Haase – absent
Mr. Matrana – yes
4-ayes, 0-opposed, 1-absent. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS/NEW BUSINESS
None.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Cavanaugh made a motion to adjourn. Second by Mr. Blevins. Motion carried.
