1988-06-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . Minutes - Plan Commission Page 2 June 22, 1988 the automobile repair/service bays would remain and provide the same services as they had in the past. In addition, the self-serve gasoline pumps and sales area would remain open 24 hours a day. Mr. Polk explained that Amoco Oil would gladly agree to the conditions of operation purposed by the Director of Planning in his report to the Plan Commission of June 13, 1988. As regards signage on the property, Mr. Polk proposed that a primary sign would be located on the building, a freestanding primary sign would be located on the northeast corner of the property which would include a price sign and would conform to the height restriction of the University City Sign Code. In addition, the Amoco logo would be located in two places on the new canopy, on the north and west sides. He felt that this amount of signage would conform in all respects to the University City Sign Code. Chairman McCauley called on Ms. Elwood to present the issues cited in the Planning Department's report on the application. Ms. Elwood explained that a service station had been located on this site since 1926 and was replaced with a modern station in 1968. The use of the property as an automobile filling station predated current code regulations which require a Conditional Use Permit for such an operation. Thus, the only issue addressed by the Conditional Use Permit application was the new construction, i.e. the pump islands and canopy. With regards to the canopy, Ms. Elwood explained that the "GC"-General Commercial use regulations require a minimum right-of-way setback of 35 feet. The drawings submitted with the application indicate the canopy would be set back only one foot from the right-of-way; however, the proposed pump islands would be virtually in the same location as the existing pump islands. Section 34-24.4 of the Zoning Code allows awnings and canopys as permitted obstructions in required yards. The issue is whether the Zoning Code meant to exempt a pump island canopy from the setback requirements. The sidewalk along Forsyth is a generous one at approximately 20 feet in width, thus reducing the hazard of an automobile coming up on the curb and hitting a pump island or the canopy support. However, the lack of an appropriate setback on Forsyth could be costly to the City if any significant widening of the right-of-way would become necessary in the future. Therefore, the Planning Director thought it appropriate for the applicant to enter into an agreement with the City to relocate the pump islands and canopy at no cost to the City in the event it became necessary to widen Forsyth Boulevard. The existing freestanding sign on the east side of the property is a non-conforming one because of it's height. The current University City Sign Code limits freestanding signs on properties of this size to a 10 foot height. The Planning Director had suggested that since the canopy would cut off the sight line from the west, the identification sign should be placed on the canopy and the freestanding sign should be used as a price sign with an appropriate height limitation. Ms. Elwood stated that although the issue of fire prevention was not within the Plan Commission's specific jurisdiction, the applicant should be aware that the University City Fire Prevention Code would require that all gasoline dispensing units must be located at least 15 feet from any property line.