Title
ZV2025-0004, Walmart, 151 SW 184 Avenue, variance request. (Cole) (District 4)
Summary Explanation and Background
SUMMARY EXPLANATION AND BACKGROUND:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND:
Lisa Leonard, agent for Wal-Mart, is requesting a sign variance for the existing Super Wal-Mart site, located at 151 Southwest 184 Avenue. The applicant is requesting a variance to allow directional and informational signs on-site without meeting certain site requirements.
LDC Section 155.699 permits directional and informational signs where there are two or more buildings; a building has a drive-thru; or a building is not visible from the primary frontage.
The applicant requests the ability to add directional/informational signs to their site to direct customers to on-line pickup areas. Upon review of the Wal-Mart request, zoning staff have determined that the site does not meet the criteria to allow such signs.
Walmart was approved in 1997 through site plan SP (97-25). In 2002, the site was approved for 24-hour Super Wal-Mart with associated parking, landscaping, signage and circulation. As a result of the 2002 application, the original Wal-Mart Walmart was demolished once Super Wal-Mart Walmart was completed. Additionally, in 2002, the site was approved for a variance to allow 514.56 square feet of wall signage.
In 2019 through MSC2019-12, in the drive aisle adjacent to the northwest corner of the building, seven short-term parking spaces were approved with a freestanding canopy covering six of the seven short-term parking spaces. In 2024 through ZV2024-0006 33 short-term parking spaces were approved for the site.
VARIANCE REQUEST DETAILS:
The applicant is requesting a variance to allow directional and informational signs where there are fewer than two buildings, the building does not have a drive-thru and the building is visible from the primary frontage.
The applicant has provided the attached justification statement to support their request. Directional and informational signage is regulated by Land Development Code Table 155.699 Permanent Signs. For reference, staff have attached the table from Article 6 of the Land Development Code.
Should this variance be approved, the applicant must obtain applicable City approvals and/or permits prior to installation of the signs.
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.