SU0004497 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Analysis Background On May 27, 2003, the Community Development Department conditionally approved PA-0400171 for the construction of an off premise billboard sign. The building permit for the sign was finaled by the Building Division on October 16, 2003. The sign was built at the site. Development Title Section 9-1710.6(a)(3) requires that off-premises billboard signs in industrial zones be a maximum of 50 feet above grade. The applicant built the sign 50 feet tall, as required. However, the grade of the property where the sign is located is lower than Interstate 5, and there is a row of trees between Interstate 5 and Harlan Road in the vicinity of the sign. The applicant indicates that the trees decrease the visibility of the sign to motorists traveling on Interstate 5. The applicant also indicates that an application was submitted to Caltrans requesting permission to trim the trees. The application was denied. As a result, the applicant is requesting a Variance to raise the height of the sign 15 feet to make the sign more visible to motorists on Interstate 5. Policy Considerations For a Variance application to be approved, three Findings for a Variance must be made in the affirmative. The applicant submitted Findings for the approval of the Variance application. The Community Development Department has determined that all three Findings can be made in the affirmative. Variance Findings Finding 1. Because of the special circumstances applicable to the property, including size, shape, topography, location or surroundings, the strict application of the regulation deprives the property owner of privileges enjoyed by other property in the vicinity and under identical zoning classifications. The applicant states: Leonard & Company requests a Variance to the height of our approved billboard. We request that the sign height allowance be increase to 65 feet from property level as opposed to the county standard of 50 feet for the following reasons: Visual Conformity The state has several 65 foot billboards lined up on 1-5 1000 feet both North and South of our location at 9848 Harlan Road in French Camp, California. The appearance of our billboard (because `it is lower in height') looks out of since with the other billboards in the area. All the signs in this area are tall enough to clear the trees except for our billboard, which appears to be substandard as it drops below the tree line. State Approvals Susan Swenson from Cal Trans advises that they will approve the sign with a new application at the requested height of 65 feet and still be in conformance with the other signs along this corridor. Low Land Grade When Leonard & Company, Inc. originally requested the approval of this sign as it was our understanding that the billboard would be considered 50 feet above Freeway street level or frontage road level. It was not until the late stages of the building permit process, that Leonard was made aware that the 50 feet begins at the ground level of our lot, and we could not use Freeway grade or frontage road as a guide. Leonard still contends that the intent of the San Joaquin County PA-0400278\Muller Community Development Page 3