Title
ZV2025-0018, Memorial Manor, 777 S Douglas Road, variance request. (Cole) (District 1)
Summary Explanation and Background
SUMMARY EXPLANATION AND BACKGROUND:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND:
Ferrin Signs, agent, requested five sign variances for Memorial Manor & FSER located at 801 South Douglas Road and 777 South Douglas Road. The items were first heard at the December 12, 2025 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting. ZV2025-0018 - ZV2025-0021 were deferred to the January 8, 2026 to allow for the applicant to reevaluate their request. ZV2025-0022 was approved at the December meeting.
The mailed notice and published legal advertisement reflect the original request. Since that time, however, the applicant has submitted the following revised requests to staff reducing the square footage of the monument sign and total signage for the site:
• To allow a maximum 43.57 square foot monument sign instead of the required maximum of 24 square feet for outparcel and freestanding building monument signs for both buildings
• To allow a maximum of 163 total square feet of signage instead of the required maximum 120 total square feet of signage.
• To allow 88 square feet of signage on the primary façade instead of the required maximum of 60 square feet of signage on the primary façade.
Memorial Manor was approved in 1988 through site plan SP88-12. In 2024, the Planning and Zoning Board approved the new Memorial FSER through site plan SP2023-0003. One (1) monument, 5 directional and 3 wall signs meeting code requirements were approved as part of the application. The current proposal reflects an update to the previously approved plan.
Should the variances be approved, the applicant must obtain all applicable building permits.
VARIANCE REQUEST DETAILS:
The applicant is requesting four sign variances for Memorial Manor & FSER. The applicant has submitted a justification statement that outlines the need for signage variances to ensure visibility and safe wayfinding for emergency responders, patients, and visitors. The revised variance requests, which besides ZV2025-0021 are smaller than the advertised requests are as follows:
• ZV2025-0018: To allow a maximum 43.57 square foot monument sign instead of the required maximum of 24 square feet for outparcel and freestanding building monument signs.
• ZV2025-0019: To allow a maximum 43.57 square foot monument sign instead of the required maximum of 24 square feet for outparcel and freestanding building monument signs.
• ZV2025-0020: To allow a maximum of 163 total square feet of signage instead of the required maximum 120 total square footage signage.
• ZV2025-0021: To allow 88 square feet of signage on the primary façade instead of the required maximum of 60 square feet of signage on the primary façade.
Signage for the site is regulated by Land Development Code. For reference, staff has attached all applicable sections from Article 6 of the Land Development Code.
VARIANCE DETERMINATION:
The Planning & Zoning Board shall not grant any non-single-family residential variances, permits, or make any decision, finding, and determination unless it first determines that:
Its decision and action taken is in harmony with the general purposes of the zoning ordinances of the city and is not contrary to the public interest, health, or welfare, taking into account the character and use of adjoining buildings and those in the vicinity, the number of persons residing or working in the buildings, and traffic conditions in the vicinity.
In the granting of non-single-family residential variances, the Board shall follow Section 155.301(O) Variance:
1. Purpose: To allow for the provision of relief from certain development standards of this LDC for one or more of the following reasons:
a) There are special circumstances or conditions applying to the land or building for which the variance is sought, which circumstances are peculiar to the land or building and do not apply generally to land or buildings in the neighborhood, and that the strict application of the provisions of the zoning ordinances would result in an unnecessary hardship and deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of the land or building; or
b) Any alleged hardship is not self-created by any person having an interest in the property nor is the result of a mere disregard for or in ignorance of the provisions of the zoning ordinances of the city; or
c) Granting the variance is not incompatible with public policy, will not adversely affect any adjacent property owners, and that the circumstances which cause the special conditions are peculiar to the subject property.