31B - VARIANCE - 1500 E WARNER AVE

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Variance No. 2012-09 November 13, 2012 Page 3 • That the granting of the variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights. • That the granting of the variance will not be detrimental to the public or surrounding property • That the granting of the variance will not adversely affect the General Plan. If these findings can be made, then it is appropriate to grant the variance. Conversely, the inability to make these findings would result in a denial. Using this information, staff has prepared the following analysis, which forms the basis for the recommendation contained in this report. Regarding this project, Section 41-862(c)(3) of the Santa Ana Municipal Code (SAMC) states that no monument sign, if located on a parcel of land that is over 15 acres in size, shall be taller than 15 feet, wider than 10 feet and have a sign area greater than 60 square feet. As the applicant is proposing to install a larger monument sign, a variance needs to be approved. In analyzing the variance request staff believes that the following findings of fact warrant approval of the variance. • The project site has a special circumstance related to its size, shape and location. The Brookhollow Office Park is a triangular shaped parcel of land located in a highly urbanized setting that is immediately adjacent to the Costa Mesa (SR-55) Freeway. Immediately surrounding the office park are several large single-tenant buildings that have visibility from the SR-55 Freeway. Since the Brookhollow Office Park has approximately 100 tenants with little or no visibility to the freeway, the location and placement of these buildings makes it difficult to identify the tenants. In order to allow the major tenants to be distinguished from the other adjacent structures, signage that is visible from the SR-55 Freeway is necessary. The current limitation restricting the largest monument signage to a maximum of 15 feet in height and 60 square feet in size is not adequate given the developments location adjacent to a freeway. The granting of the variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights. The larger monument sign will allow the office park the ability to adequately identify the major tenants within the project. Further, allowing the larger signage will allow the Brookhollow Office Park to be competitive with similar uses in the area. The signage will be consistent with Policy 2.2 of the Land Use Element, which supports commercial uses to accommodate the City's needs for services. • The granting of the variance will not be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to surrounding property as the remaining signage will be in compliance with all aspects of the Specific Development No. 8 (SD-8) zoning district. In addition, the proposed signage will not generate any operational impacts that will adversely affect surrounding properties nor distract vehicles travelling on the Costa Mesa (SR-55) Freeway. Finally, the signage will be designed to comply with the provision of the California Building Standards Code. 31 B-5