STAFF REPORT TO THE FLORENCE COUNTY BOARD
STAFF REPORT TO THE FLORENCE COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS Tuesday, March 20, 2018 BZA#2018-01
SUBJECT:
Request for a variance from the requirements of Sec. 30202, Table VIII (G) and (H)
LOCATION:
2691 Alex Lee Blvd., Florence, SC
TAX MAP NUMBER:
00236, Block 01, Parcel 032
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
7; County Council
OWNER OF RECORD:
29501 LLC
APPLICANT:
Matt Flintrop
LAND AREA:
6.447 acres
VARIANCE REQUESTED:
An increase of 30 feet in the height of a freestanding business sign and 140 feet in the sign area.
STAFF ANALYSIS: Existing Land Use and Zoning: The subject property is currently being developed with a new motorcycle dealership under construction. Currently the location is within an Unzoned District of Florence County. Surrounding Land Use and Zoning: North: Vacant/Interstate Highway/Unzoned/Florence County South: Vacant/Unzoned/ Florence County West: Commercial/Unzoned/ Florence County East: Commercial/Unzoned/ Florence County Background: The subject property is currently unzoned. The applicant is requesting to install a freestanding sign with a height totaling 70 feet and 300 square feet in the sign area. Per Chapter 30 of the Florence County Zoning Ordinance, the maximum allowable height for a freestanding sign is 40 feet and the maximum allowable freestanding sign area is 160 for a single business. The maximum sign area and height requirements for an unzoned area is established by Sec. 30202, Table VIII (G) and (H) of Chapter 30 in the Florence County Code of Ordinances.
11 of 20
Access and Circulation: The property is currently accessed by way of Alex Lee Blvd., Florence, SC.
Sec. 30-293. – Board of zoning appeals (c) Powers of board of appeals; variances; special exceptions; remand; stay; hearing; decisions and orders. The board of appeals has the following powers: (1)
To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in an order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the zoning ordinance;
(2)
To hear and decide appeals for variance from the requirements of the zoning ordinance when strict application of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship. A variance may be granted in an individual case of unnecessary hardship if the board makes and explains in writing the following findings: a.
There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property;
b.
These conditions do not generally apply to other property in the vicinity;
c.
Because of these conditions, the application of the ordinance to the particular piece of property would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property; and
d.
The authorization of a variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property or to the public good, and the character of the district will not be harmed by the granting of the variance.
The Board of Zoning Appeals is to review questions (a,b,c,d) and use them to determine the findings of fact to make their decision.
VARIANCE REQUEST: Currently zoning only allows for a 40 foot tall on premise sign which will not be visible from the interstate. We are also limited to 160 sq. ft. of area. We wish to install a sign totaling 70 feet high to be used specifically to advertise our business to tourist traveling I-95 and 327. It would also guide them to us and help them find our location. The sign available to us is 300 sq. ft., a 140 sq. ft. increase.
a. There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property as follows: 12 of 20
Applicant’s response: We are limited to having a 40 foot sign and cannot change it to a billboard classification due to the proximity of our neighbor’s sign which is 100 ft. tall plus. Without the variance, you will not be able to see the sign over the overpass when going north, so you won’t be able to make the exit. The only sign approved by Harley Davidson and produced by the vendor which is appropriately scaled to our pole requirements is 300 sq. ft. b. These conditions do not generally apply to other property in the vicinity as shown by: Applicant’s response: Our neighbor, the Pilot station has a sign that is in excess of 100 feet that makes them more visible. c. Because of these conditions, the application of the ordinance to the particular piece of property would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property as follows: Applicant’s response: Our business is highly dependent on high levels of traffic, specifically tourist. In our industry it’s a proven fact that limiting that traffic will reduce our ability to do business and will suppress interest in the surrounding businesses. d. The authorization of the variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property or to the public good, and the character of the district will not be harmed by the granting of the variance for the following reasons: Applicant’s response: I have attached a copy of a letter from Jeff Singletary who is responsible for the Business Park for Pee Dee Electric. He allowed us to exceed the restrictive covenants limit of 50 ft. so as to not restrict our ability to draw customers.
Section 30-293 (c, 2, d) Board of Zoning Appeals The board may not grant a variance, the effect of which would be to allow the establishment of a use not otherwise permitted in a zoning district, to extend physically a nonconforming use of land or to change the zoning district boundaries shown on the official zoning map. The fact that property may be utilized more profitably, if a variance is granted, may not be considered grounds for a variance.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Zoning map 2. Aerial map 3. Sign package
13 of 20
14 of 20
15 of 20
16 of 20
17 of 20
18 of 20
19 of 20
20 of 20
SUBJECT:
Request for a variance from the requirements of Sec. 30202, Table VIII (G) and (H)
LOCATION:
2691 Alex Lee Blvd., Florence, SC
TAX MAP NUMBER:
00236, Block 01, Parcel 032
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
7; County Council
OWNER OF RECORD:
29501 LLC
APPLICANT:
Matt Flintrop
LAND AREA:
6.447 acres
VARIANCE REQUESTED:
An increase of 30 feet in the height of a freestanding business sign and 140 feet in the sign area.
STAFF ANALYSIS: Existing Land Use and Zoning: The subject property is currently being developed with a new motorcycle dealership under construction. Currently the location is within an Unzoned District of Florence County. Surrounding Land Use and Zoning: North: Vacant/Interstate Highway/Unzoned/Florence County South: Vacant/Unzoned/ Florence County West: Commercial/Unzoned/ Florence County East: Commercial/Unzoned/ Florence County Background: The subject property is currently unzoned. The applicant is requesting to install a freestanding sign with a height totaling 70 feet and 300 square feet in the sign area. Per Chapter 30 of the Florence County Zoning Ordinance, the maximum allowable height for a freestanding sign is 40 feet and the maximum allowable freestanding sign area is 160 for a single business. The maximum sign area and height requirements for an unzoned area is established by Sec. 30202, Table VIII (G) and (H) of Chapter 30 in the Florence County Code of Ordinances.
11 of 20
Access and Circulation: The property is currently accessed by way of Alex Lee Blvd., Florence, SC.
Sec. 30-293. – Board of zoning appeals (c) Powers of board of appeals; variances; special exceptions; remand; stay; hearing; decisions and orders. The board of appeals has the following powers: (1)
To hear and decide appeals where it is alleged there is error in an order, requirement, decision, or determination made by an administrative official in the enforcement of the zoning ordinance;
(2)
To hear and decide appeals for variance from the requirements of the zoning ordinance when strict application of the provisions of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship. A variance may be granted in an individual case of unnecessary hardship if the board makes and explains in writing the following findings: a.
There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property;
b.
These conditions do not generally apply to other property in the vicinity;
c.
Because of these conditions, the application of the ordinance to the particular piece of property would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property; and
d.
The authorization of a variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property or to the public good, and the character of the district will not be harmed by the granting of the variance.
The Board of Zoning Appeals is to review questions (a,b,c,d) and use them to determine the findings of fact to make their decision.
VARIANCE REQUEST: Currently zoning only allows for a 40 foot tall on premise sign which will not be visible from the interstate. We are also limited to 160 sq. ft. of area. We wish to install a sign totaling 70 feet high to be used specifically to advertise our business to tourist traveling I-95 and 327. It would also guide them to us and help them find our location. The sign available to us is 300 sq. ft., a 140 sq. ft. increase.
a. There are extraordinary and exceptional conditions pertaining to the particular piece of property as follows: 12 of 20
Applicant’s response: We are limited to having a 40 foot sign and cannot change it to a billboard classification due to the proximity of our neighbor’s sign which is 100 ft. tall plus. Without the variance, you will not be able to see the sign over the overpass when going north, so you won’t be able to make the exit. The only sign approved by Harley Davidson and produced by the vendor which is appropriately scaled to our pole requirements is 300 sq. ft. b. These conditions do not generally apply to other property in the vicinity as shown by: Applicant’s response: Our neighbor, the Pilot station has a sign that is in excess of 100 feet that makes them more visible. c. Because of these conditions, the application of the ordinance to the particular piece of property would effectively prohibit or unreasonably restrict the utilization of the property as follows: Applicant’s response: Our business is highly dependent on high levels of traffic, specifically tourist. In our industry it’s a proven fact that limiting that traffic will reduce our ability to do business and will suppress interest in the surrounding businesses. d. The authorization of the variance will not be of substantial detriment to adjacent property or to the public good, and the character of the district will not be harmed by the granting of the variance for the following reasons: Applicant’s response: I have attached a copy of a letter from Jeff Singletary who is responsible for the Business Park for Pee Dee Electric. He allowed us to exceed the restrictive covenants limit of 50 ft. so as to not restrict our ability to draw customers.
Section 30-293 (c, 2, d) Board of Zoning Appeals The board may not grant a variance, the effect of which would be to allow the establishment of a use not otherwise permitted in a zoning district, to extend physically a nonconforming use of land or to change the zoning district boundaries shown on the official zoning map. The fact that property may be utilized more profitably, if a variance is granted, may not be considered grounds for a variance.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Zoning map 2. Aerial map 3. Sign package
13 of 20
14 of 20
15 of 20
16 of 20
17 of 20
18 of 20
19 of 20
20 of 20
