Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20200102 McDonald's Signage NOD T4 Keith Kaplan, Chair CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Brad Gallagher, Vice Chair 5 'f ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS Cheryl Grey cz) Matthew Gutch CITY HALL-474 BROADWAY Christopher Mills SARATOGA SPRINGS,NEW YORK 12866 Gage Simpson ge_`- ; Kathleen O'Connor,alternate PH)518-587-3550 Fx)518-580-9480 WWW.SARATOGA-SPRINGS.ORG DRAT EO #20200102 IN THE MATTER OF THE APPEAL OF McDonald's CB Enterprises of Saratoga 7 Woods Edge Ct Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 from the determination of the Building Inspector involving the premises at 197 South Broadway in the City of Saratoga Springs, New York being tax parcel number 165.83-I-7 on the Assessment Map of said City. The appellant having applied for an area variance under the Zoning Ordinance of said City to permit the installation of 4 freestanding signs in a Transect-5 (T-5) District and public notice having been duly given of a hearing on said application held on the 18th day of May through the 3rd day of August, 2020. In consideration of the balance between benefit to the applicant with detriment to the health, safety and welfare of the community, I move that the following area variance for the following amount of relief: TYPE OF REQUIREMENT DISTRICT DIMENSIONAL PROPOSED RELIEF REQUESTED REQUIREMENT MAX#OF FREESTANDING SIGNS ON I PARCEL 0 2 200% (MENU BOARDS) MAX#OF FREESTANDING SIGNS ON I PARCEL 0 2 200% (PRE-BROWSE BOARDS) MAX SIZE OF FREESTANDING SIGN: 12 sq ft 19.I sq ft 7.I sq ft (59.2%) MENU BOARDS(2) MIN SEPARATION BETWEEN SIGNS 50' 17' 33' (66%) MIN VERTICAL CLEARANCE(DRIVE THRU) 10' 9' I' (10%) As per the submitted plans or lesser dimensions, be approved for the following reasons: I. The applicant has demonstrated this benefit cannot be achieved by other means feasible to the applicant. The proposed menu signs are a replacement to the sign package approved with the building of the restaurant in 201 I. The applicant proposes to replace the current menu signs that are larger (42 sq ft) and require employees to manually rotate and replace the panels several times per day, noting a safety and efficiency issue. The proposed menu and pre-browse signs are light-emitting diode (LED) screens that can be modified remotely to improve safety and convenience for the employees. Per the applicant, the proposed pre-browse signs are similar to what McDonald's is doing at many of their locations to provide customers an opportunity to see daily specials prior to making their decision at the order station. The applicant notes this reduces the amount of time customers are ordering which reduces the line of vehicles waiting to order. The applicant further provided information to the Board showing the separation between the menu and pre-browse sign is determined by where a vehicle would be idling if a vehicle in front of them was at the order station, and that the vertical clearance sign is required to notify the drivers that the drive thru window roof is 9 feet tall. 2. The applicant has demonstrated that granting this variance will not create an undesirable change in neighborhood character or detriment to nearby properties. The Board notes the proposed menu signs are smaller than the currently installed menus and will emit less overall light (33,000 lumens vs 57,000 lumens). Additionally, the applicant notes that the pre-browse signs are intended to increase the flow through the drive thru which will reduce the number of vehicles lined up in the queue that could impact traffic on Broadway. Furthermore, the applicant notes that the separation of the signs and the adjustable brightness of the LED screen will not add to the overall light emitted from the property. 3. The Board notes the requested variances are substantial, however the impact of the substantiality is mitigated by the following: a. The 2 menu signs are replacing larger menu signs currently in place. b. The 2 additional pre-browse signs are intended to reduce the number of vehicles waiting in line that could lead to a larger impact on the neighborhood if traffic is interrupted on Broadway. c. The overall square footage of the proposed menu signs and the pre-browse signs is lower than the already existing menu signs (58 sq ft proposed vs. 84 sq ft existing). d. The overall clearance sign is replacing an already installed overall clearance sign. 4. This variance will not have a significant adverse physical or environmental effect on the neighborhood or district. As noted above, per the applicant, the new LED screens are more efficient and produce less overall light. The applicant notes this reduces the property's carbon footprint and removes the light bleed from the current menus into adjacent properties. Also as noted above, the pre-browse signs are intended to reduce the number of vehicles idling in line which will reduce carbon emissions and reduce any impact on Broadway traffic. 5. The alleged difficulty is considered self-created insofar as the applicant desires to replace the existing menus and install pre-browse signs. However, this is not necessarily fatal to the application. Note: • Saratoga County Planning board finding of no significant county wide or intercommunity impact,July 29, 2020. Adopted by the following vote: AYES: 4 (K. Kaplan, G. Simpson, C. Mills, M. Gutch) NAYES: 3 (C. Grey, B. Gallagher, K. O'Connor) Dated:August 3, 2020 This variance shall expire 18 months following the filing date of such decision unless the necessary building permit has been issued and actual construction begun as per 240-8.5.1. I hereby certify the above to be a full,true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Saratoga Springs on the date above mentioned, seven members of the Board being present. SIGNATURE: 8/05/2020 CHAIR DATE RECEIVED BY ACCOUNTS DEPT.