AGENDA DATE: 11/4/2015
TITLE:
Title
ZTA 2015-04 Phase 2 Route 29 Solutions Business Signage
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Public Hearing to address ZTA 2015-12 Phase 2 Route 29 Solutions Business Signage
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Davis, Kamptner, McCulley, Wright and MacCall
PRESENTER (S): Stewart Wright
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: This is the second sign ordinance amendment to address business impacts from the Rio-29 Grade Separated Intersection. The first amendment allowed temporary signage during the project for those signs that would be removed as a result of the construction (See Attachment E for May 6, 2015 Executive Summary). From June through August 2015, staff reached out in numerous ways to businesses in the Route 29 corridor to discuss their signage needs (See Attachment A, Business Outreach Findings.) The majority opinion was that additional temporary signage is needed during the project. The businesses also supported incentives for multiple businesses to aggregate their temporary signage. Many requested that the County reduce or eliminate the sign permit fee during this time (included as part of ZTA 2015-11, which was adopted on October 14, 2015, effective November 1).
STRATEGIC PLAN: Goal 4. Economic Prosperity: Foster an environment that stimulates diversified job creation, capital investments, and tax revenues that support community goals.
DISCUSSION: Staff prepared an ordinance that intended to address the businesses’ concerns described above. See the October 6, 2015 Planning Commission staff report (Attachment C) for details regarding the ordinance. Prior to the October 6, 2015 Commission meeting, the County received an inquiry from the Free Enterprise Forum asking whether businesses on lots within the VDOT project area, but not abutting a public street, would be eligible to be included on the temporary signs allowed by this ordinance. To address this concern, staff drafted a revision (Attachment B), which the Commission recommended for approval (See Attachment D for October 6, 2015 Commission Minutes). The revision allows those properties without frontage to be identified on a temporary sign and be counted towards the aggregate number of businesses, potentially qualifying for the larger sign available for those signs serving four or more businesses.
BUDGET IMPACT: No measurable budget impact is expected due to the limited applicability and time period for qualifying temporary signs. Due to this limited scope, even though the County is not charging fees for these temporary signs and therefore not recovering staff costs, it is expected to be a minimal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that, after the public hearing, the Board adopt the attached proposed ordinance (Attachment B).
ATTACHMENTS:
A: Business Outreach Findings
B: Proposed Ordinance
C: October 6 Planning Commission Report
D: Planning Commission Minutes
E: May 6, 2015 Phase 1 Route 29 Solutions Business Signage Executive Summary