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Variance No. 2005-08 July 11, 2005 Page 3 such as projecting mimetic wall signs and exposed the new standards also restricted the number and order to correspond with the small scale architecture of the buildings in the area. neon size and signs. However, of wall signs in the predominant On June 13, 2005, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on a proposal to install a second wall sign that exceeded the maximum size and letter height allowable in the C-SM zone district. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Planning Commission continued this item and directed the applicant to reduce the size of the sign to be more in scale with the signable area on Main Street. In addition, the Planning Commission suggested increasing the size of the new conforming sign on Cubbon Street to also be in scale with the building fac;ade. As a result, the applicant has revised his plans and is requesting an additional variance. The applicant is proposing the installation of two internally illuminated wall signs that exceed the criteria of the C-SM sign regulations. Buildings located in the C-SM district are allowed one wall sign, limited to a maximum of 50 square feet with a letter height of 14 inches (16 inches for the capital letters). The proposal is for two signs; one on the Cubbon Street elevation, which exceeds the allowed sign size by 32 square feet, and one on the Main Street elevation, which exceeds the allowed sign size by 70 square feet. The applicant has requested a variance in order to exceed the maximum number of allowed signs, as well as the maximum allowed size and letter height. In evaluating this request, staff must be able to make the finding that, due to the unique characteristics of the property, the strict application of the code should not apply. While the subject property is located within the C-SM zoning district, the size of the building is generally larger in scale than those in the surrounding area and is similar in scale to the development located at the corners of maj or intersections, which are zoned C-2. In addition, the building has two major facades; 144 linear feet facade facing Cubbon Street with 370 square feet of signable area, and 169 linear feet facade facing Main Street with 400 square feet of signable area. The proposed signs are in scale and proportion to the signable areas of both building elevations. Sign A encompasses about 22 percent of the signable area, while Sign B encompasses about 30 percent of the signable area and is just over 50 percent of its length. Due to the unique characteristics of the building and its corner location, staff finds that a variance from the strict application of the C-SM sign standards is warranted. 31A-4