901 W CASINO RD 2018-01-02 MF Import

The City's position is that the purpose and intent of the Neighborhood Business zone (as set forth in the Zoning Code) is to serve residents of the surrounding neighborhood and that they will soon become familiar with the products and prices offered and so will not. need to be attracted by advertised prices. The same holds true for the increased signing on the building itself - the people residing in the neighborhood will soon become aware of the hours of operation and prices and products offered. The 30-square feet of wall sign permitted by Code appears to be adequate to identify the business as an Arco Mi/PM mini -mart. In addition, since the B-1 zone one -quarter mile to the east on Casino Road is abiding by the sign requirements In the B-1 code, it may give the subject property an unfair advantage if they were allowed larfer signs. Aesthetically speaking, larger signs may have an adverse effect on the residential character of the neighborhood. The owner of a multiple family project. adjacent to the aft:e, Fred Bence, has verbally expressed opposition to a variance for signage on the basis that the applicant is trying to use a "cookie cutter" design, and instead, they should design something that. would be compatible with a residential neighborhood. b. Conclusion: Granting the variance may be detrimental to other property in the vicinity and zone, and does not appear to be necessary. Criterion No. 4: That the granting of such variance will not adversely affect the Comprehensive General Plan. a. Finding: The Comprehensive Plan designation for this site is neighborhood business. The policies for Neighborhood Business adopted by City Council in August. of 1987 state that the purpose of this designation is to provide small areas conveniently located to serve the day to day consumer or convenience needs of a small neighborhood area. The 1987 Comprehensive Plan Neighborhood Business Policies also sr.ate that development should be of a size and scale which preserve and enhance the residential areas they are intended to serve and the size of structures should be limited to a size that assures a neighborhood market orientation rather than a community or regional market orientation. b. Conclusion: Granting the variance would allow signa that would be more appropriate for a B-2, Community 9usiness zone which is meant to serve population areas of from 10,000 to 20,000 people. The Neighborhood Business is not intended to draw in customers that may not be residents of the surrounding neighborhood. -3-