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Minutes 05-14-96MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING HELD IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1996, AT 6:00 P.M. PRESENT Gerald "Jerry" Taylor, Mayor Shirley Jaskiewicz. Vice Mayor Matthew Bradley, Commissioner Henderson Tillman, Commissioner Jamie Titcomb, Commissioner Carrie Parker, City Manager Michael PaWelczyk, Assistant City Attorney Sue Kruse, City Clerk CALL TO ORDER Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. for the purpose of considering the sign plans request for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. She announced that Mayor Taylor has been delayed. She asked to hear from the applicant first. Louis Campanile with CCL Consultants was present on behalf of Cracker Barrel. He introduced Michael Morton, who represented the owner of the property, and Jerry Handshuh, a representative of Cracker Barrel. Mr. Campanile advised that Cracker Barrel is requesting an off-premise sign on 1-95 (45 feet h gh, with an area of 149 or 150 square feet), two on-site signs (one of which is practically the same sign as the one an 1-95), and a wall s~gn (13 feet by 17 feet high). All these signs contain Cracker Barrel's standard logo. Tambri Heyden, Director of Planning and Zoning, stated that Cracker Barrel is proposing one 91 square foot wall sign on the center of the east facade. This is going to be an externally illuminated cabinet sign. The sign colors (brown, yellow, and beige) are shown on the elevations. They are the typical colors that are associated with their corporate logo. They are proposing one site sign on their parcel, the size of which is 149 square feet. it is a pole sign located near the southeast corner of the site. That pole sign is proposed to be 45 feet tall. It is an externally illuminated s~gn cabinet with the same colors and sign face. Pursuant to a previous settlement agreement, there will be an off-premise pole sign. However, the City does not have any information regarding the size, content, or location of that sign. Ms. Heyden explained that sign programs are required for all PCDs to encourage continuity between the uses within the PCDs. A sign program was approved for this MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 PCD in 1990. It included one free standing sign (150 square feet), which currently exists, to identify multi tenants. Right now it has the Home Depot sign on it, and it is an internally illuminated sign cabinet. Two monument signs (8 feet tall by 55 feet long) were also part of that sign program. They were not illuminated The colors were royal blue. The letter style is Helvetica Medium. These signs have not been constructed. For the additional uses that have not been constructed yet on the east and west sides of S.W. 8th Street, the same royal blue color scheme, internally illuminated or back lit channel letters was approved. The letter style is Helvetica Medium. There was also a signage size that went into place at that time. There were also the Home Depot wall signs which exists. Th;e site plan that was approved recently included a condition regarding s~gns and a sign program. That sign program has not been turned in. Ms. Heyden pointed out that the signs for Racetrac have net been approved yet either. She felt this was an opportunity to set the tone for what we want to see in terms of the rest of the signs for the project. Since we did not have a modified comprehensive sign program for this project, we have looked at this in terms of the Community Design Plan and that prompted the chart in Exhibit D that compares the Cracker Barrel signage, the Shoppes of Woolbright signage, the Sign Code. and the Community Design Plan. Ms. Heyden reviewed staff's recommendations. With regard to the off-premise sign, staff needs to see the information regarding the size, content, and location. Commissioner Bradley asked how Ms. Heyden was categorizing the off-premise sign. Ms. Heyden said she was referring to the 1-95 sign omy. That sign has already been approved by a separate agreement. However, staff cannot locate the exhibits for the agreement that pinned down the design and location of the sign. City Manager Parker said that attachment was the preliminary sign plan that Mr. Morton had turned ~n previously. She asked him if he has an extra copy of it. Mr. Morton answered affirmatively and showed the Commission the exhibit to the agreement. City Manager Parker stated that the dimensions, location, etc. of that sign have already MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 been approved, so they just have to meet that approval. Forty-five feet was part of the settlement agreement, so we really need to concentrate on the on-site signage. Ms. Heyden advised that the proposed wall signage is generally acceptable. However, the logo, the color of the s~gn copy, and the style of the sign are in conflict with the sign program and the Community Design Plan. The Cracker Barrel signs propose brown sign copy. The sign copy for the PCD s~gn program shows blue, and royal blue signs already exist. (The main shopping center sign located at the northeast corner of 8th and Woolbright Road is royal blue.) It is a stand-alone sign at least 64 square feet and about 20 or 25 feet up in the air. Staff recommends that the sign style be changed from a cabinet to channel letters and that the lighting be changed from external lighting to either internally illuminated ar back lit. Staff recommends that the 45 foot tal pole sign on the property be reduced in height and that the type of the sign be changed to a monument sign. Right now, they are proposing a 45 foot tall sign, 149 square feet in size, with a corporate logo on it. Staff recommends that it be replaced with one monument sign 8 feet tall. Staff also recommends that the monument sign be mounted on a sign base with a minimum height of 2 feet, that the color and material of the sign base match the walls of the main building, and that the s~ze of the monument sign not exceed 64 square feet. With regard to the freestanding sign on the site, Ms. Heyden asked for direction regarding the rest of the sign program when it comes in. She suggested that the rest of the signs for the out uses be monument signs. At Commissioner Bradley's request, Ms. Heyden described the difference between a monument sign and a pole s~gn. At this time, Mayor Taylor arrived. Ms. Heyden stated that many of the sign codes that are developed recognize monument signs as a more attractive way of dealing with freestanding signs, and monument signs have been found to be just as effective for sign edification. Commissioner Bradley asked if the sign on the northeast corner is the main sign for the PCD. Ms. Heyden answered affirmatively. She stated that it identifies the Shoppes of Woolbright and also provides for tenant signage. Right now, Home Depot is the only MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 tenant. However, there is space on that sign for other tenants that come in, including Cracker Barrel. It is a freestanding sign Commissioner Bradley did not think it would look right if the sign on the inside of the shopping center or the PCD is bigger than the sign advertising the shopping center. He felt the 64 square foot sign is the way to go. Mr. Campanile believes the impetus to having a 45 foot tal, 150 square foot sign is the location off of 1-95. 1-95 is pretty elevated. The sign on 1-95 just says "Exit Woolbright Road". The people do not know whether to go west or east after they exit 1-95. Once they exit 1-95, this sign will help them find Cracker Barrel without having to go back and forth. Commissioner Bradley thought the sign was supposed to indicate "east" or "west". He said the addendum to the settlement agreement, at the bottom of Pa~t A, says "Exit # , West". Mr. Morton said that was what it was allowed to say. City Manager Parker stated that the Commission discussed what they wanted to see on the 1-95 sign. and the language that is in the settlement agreement is the language the Commission agreed to at that time. The sign ~n the packet submitted by Cracker Barrel says "EXIT WOOLBRIGHTROAI:7' on one side. On the other side it says "THIS EXIT'. Therefore, they have not chosen to follow the details of the settlement agreement. Unless the Commission directs otherwise, we were going to direct them to change the wording on this sign. As Commissioner Bradley recalls, the sentiment of the Commission at that time was to alleviate as much directional signage as possible. However, a compromise was reached and we allowed the words "east" or "west" to be on the s~gn. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz and City Manager Parker recalled allowing them to put the exit number on the sign, as well as the words "east" or "west", depending on if it was the north or south elevation She presumed that Cracker Barrel is not in agreement with that since they have submitted something different. Commissioner Bradley said if a person is heading south on 1-95 and the sign said "west", that would tell them which direction to turn on Woolbright Road when they get off '1-95. 4 MI3~UTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 Mr. Morton said if they exit on Woolbright Road, they are going to come up the ramp and see the commercial property to the right, and their natural instinct would be to turn right.. When they come off the ramp and are at the light, they will see Home Depot off to the side. They will see it is a commercial center, and they will turn right. The next thing they are going to see is the Cracker Barrel sign and the Cracker Barrel Restaurant as they go down the ramp towards the landing area of the overpass. He agreed that the original agreement states that they could put the exit number on the sign. He assumed they took the liberty of putting "EXIT WOOLBRIGHTROAI~' on the sign. City Manager Parker explained that part of the problem we had that was discussed at that time was that the current sign code does not allow a 45 foot pylon sign on site. The maximum sign allowed would be 20 feet. With the maximum variance, the sign cOuld be 25 feet. Another issue was the number of pylon signs on the property. This is why staff suggested a monument sign as opposed to another pylon sign. However, she was not sure that people would be able to see a 20 foot sign from the 1-95 intersection. She stated that directions were allowed on the 1-95 sign to eliminate another pylon sign to draw people into the site. Mayor Taylor stated that "west" or "east" on this sign may confuse people. They might think there are two exits. He felt people will normally turn right when they get off 1-95 and if they do not see Cracker Barrel, they will turn around. Mr. Handshuh stated that this would not be kind to our elderly clientele. He advised that about 50 or 60 percent of their clientele are elderly and he stated that the elderly get confused easily. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz felt the building itself will be visible. She was concerned about the pylon sign. She pointed out that we have set a precedent with permitting the one pylon sign. She was extremely concerned that if we permit a pylon sign on the property, everybody else that goes in there will want one, and other areas of the City willlwant them too. Mr. Handshuh said the reason Cracker Barrel is requesting this is because the building is hidden behind Racetrac, and they want all potential customers to find them without confusion. Being hidden on the second lot back from Woolbright Road gives them quite a distinct disadvantage. MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz felt that once you get to Racetrac, the building itself will be extremely visible because the street is wide. Commissioner Titcomb agreed He stated that coming off 1-95 you can see over Home Depot, and as you come back down on the western approach, you would not be physically behind Racetrac until you passed 8th Street. Mr. Morton pointed out that right now there are no structures on the outparcel When there are, they will block that view somewhat. Also, if you are traveling east towards 1-95 from the west, you are not going to see Cracker Barrel because of the eye clinic and Racetrac. Also, they are putting up a landscape berm along the west side, so there are some considerations to try to get some height and allow them to be identifiable. Commissioner Bradley stated that the other sign that is going to let people know that Cracker Barrel is there is the PCD sign that is right there at the intersection. Mr. Morton stated that the PCD sign at the intersection has "Shoppes of Woolbright Place" on it. That is what has been approved. The reason he never put the signs ~n is twofold. One was that if he had tenants that had different colors than navy blue, he did not want to end up having navy blue, red, orange, and brown, and so that he could change the colors on the Shoppes of Woolbright Place sign to conform more to a theme of colors within the PCD at a later date when the tenants are in place. Secondly, it is an identifying monument for the center; it is not for a particular user. He was pretty sure they will remain "Shoppes of Woolbright Place" at this time. The only variation would be in the color. Mayor Taylor agreed with Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz that we have already made a concession by allowing the tall sign on 1-95. He pointed out that there is a Cracker Barrel in Stuart just before you get to 1-95 on Indiantown Road that has a small sign at the entrance, and he found it. He pointed out that many people do not know west from east when they are on the road. He felt that if you get off 1-95 to go to Cracker Barrel, you are going to find it. With regard to the 91 square foot wall sign and the change ~n the colors, Vice Mayor had no objection to the logo colors. She felt those colors are more consistent with the building. Commissioner Bradley asked how many s~gns are royal blue at this time. Mr. Morton said there are no royal blue signs on the project. He explained that in 1990, he had no idea what might be there, except for Home Depot, and this was the color that was 6 MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 approved. It was an architectural sign designer's choice. However, he was flexible on changing that to a more suitable color which is more agreeable to the tone of the center. Commissioner Bradley felt that the gold in Cracker Barrel, the orange in Home Depot, and the earth tone in Vinings would fit into a range of colors. Ms. Heyden agreed. Commissioner Bradley suggested eliminating the blue color. Ms. Heyden pointed out that the existing main project sign (the Shoppes of Woolbright sign) is blue. Mr. Morton hopes to change that sign in the future. He is going to try to upgrade it when the major tenants come in for the vacant parcel. Mr. Handshuh pointed out that nationwide, Cracker Barrel does not have a single blue sign. The sign that they use is their national logo. Mr. Morton said he spoke to Mr. Handshuh about this earlier and told him that he felt the 45 foot sign on site would be a problem. Mr. Morton thinks he could get Mr. Handshuh to agree to lower it to 25 feet, if the Commission agrees to this. Mr. Morton said he is trying to get the whole pylon changed. He is working with Home Depot now to try to change the sign program. That sign is old and should be updated. He thinks Home Depot would be amendable to this. Aisc, Racetrac is coming in with their sign program. This will provide an opportunity to get them to move into a color theme as well. When that is resolved, Mr. Morton will come back with the pylon sign, his new big box tenant, and change the royal blue on the wall signs. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz asked if it would be totally inconsistent with our sign code if we were to allow a small Cracker Barrel sign to identify the area where you enter the property. Commissioner Bradley pointed out that there is going to be room for that on the sign. Mr. Morton said he is trying to revise that whole sign. Cracker Barrel wanted a stand-alone with their own s~gnage. He wanted to change that sign because he has entered into an agreement to hopefully get approved a big user on the remaining parcel. Therefore, he changed the pylon sign arrangement along Woolbright Road. However, he had nothing to accurately report to the Commission right now. With regard to the wall sign, staff recommended changing the sign style from cabinet to channel letters, and changing the external lighting to either internally illuminating or back lit. Commissioner Bradley asked if the purpose of this is to reduce light pollution. MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTONBEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 Ms. Heyden stated that that is a very m~nor concern. She was really looking for continuity. The signs that are there right now are internally illuminated, not externally illuminated. Mr. Morton said ~hey are trying to match the Home Depot sign, which is not really what he wants to do. Commissioner Jaskiewicz pointed out that the front of the building will face Home Depot, not a neighborhood. Ms. Heyden advised that the chances of another user coming into the center ane having external lighting on their sign is very stim. You hardly ever see that. Commissioner Bradley could accept the external illuminating, especially if there is going to be a monument sign that will be externally illuminated. He would like to see an 8 foot monument sign on the site instead of the 45 foot tall sign because he thinks there is sufficient signage. Vice Mayor JaskJewicz agreed This was not acceptable to Mr. Handshuh. He said Cracker Barrel does not have any monument signs anywhere in the country. He was trying to clearly establish to the traffic on Woolbright Road exactly wh 9re Cracker Barrel is so people will not have difficulty and will not have to make a U-turn. Commissioner Bradley pointed out that there is space on the PCD sign on the corn 9r to advertise Cracker Barrel. Mr. Morton said it is not set up that way. It is strictly set up to say"Shoppes of Woolbright". Commissioner Bradley thought the spaces underneath were empty. Mr. Morton said that is the Home Depot sign. Ms. Heyden stated that those spaces are not being used right now. Home Depot has all the signage that they have bee~ approved for. Commissioner Bradley stated that Cracker Barrel can use that space at the intersection for signage. People will be able to see that from 200 feet away and know that that is the intersection for Cracker Barrel. Mr. Handshuh asked if the Commission would allow a 25 foot pole sign. He advised that his senior management insists on the national signage that they have everywhere n the country. Ms. Heyden advised that this would require a variance. City Manager Parker advised that the Commission could approve a 20 foot pole sign this evening, and we could start the process for the variance. City Manager Parker explained that the code does not set forth the number of signs allowed in PCDs. Developers are asked to bring ~n a sign package for the entire PCD. The sign package for this PCD was approved several years ago. However, the PCD looks entirely different today than what the sign package was approved for. That sign 8 MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 package has never been changed and is totally useless at this point. Mr. Morton has been requested to bring in a new s~gn package. He does not have any tenants yet, so he has been stalling until he has tenants so that he knows what the sign package is going to look like. We have an applicant ready to go and staff has nothing to compare it to because the approved sign package is ludicrous at this point because it does not fit anything. With regard to PCDs, the City Commission has the discretion on how they want the whole process to look, how many pylon signs they want on the whole parcel, how many monument signs, etc. This is usually done at the beginning or halfway through the project. At this point, the Home Depot and Shoppes of Woolbright sign is there now. Cracker Barrel is asking for a pylon sign. We do not know what Racetrac or the other tenants want yet. Mr. Morton is going to put that together in a total sign package. If the Commission does not want any more pylons, she suggested they give her that direction at this point so staff can work with Mr. Morton to put a sign package together. Otherwise, Burger King, Racetrac, and others will probably have pylon signs. Commissioner Bradley asked how tall the Shoppes of Woolbright sign is. Mr. Morton said it is 35 feet high. Ms. Heyden estimated it to be 30 feet. She said this is what the sign code allowed before sign heights in the City were reduced to 20 feet. Motion Commissioner Bradley moved that we approve the sign site plan for Cracker Barrel subject to staff comments, including approval of the wall sign as submitted, externally illuminated and the size that they have requested, and that the pole sign on site would be a 64 square foot, 20 foot high pole sign, and that the pylon signs on 1-95 show "THIS EXIT THEN RIGHT' and "EXIT WOOLBRIGHT ROAD' and that the addendum be changed to reflect that change. Mayor Taylor seconded the motion for the purpose of discussion. Mayor Taylor asked if 64 square feet was correct. Ms. Heyden advised that Cracker Barrel is requesting 149 square feet. Commissioner Bradley had a problem with that because the PCD sign that announces the entrance to the whole area is 64 square feet, and he felt it would look ridiculous to put a s~gn in there twice as big as that. Mr. Morton stated the entrance sign, the Home Depot sign, is over 150 feet. For purposes of comparison, Ms. Heyden advised the Commission of what is allowed in other uses in other zoning districts. A freestanding restaurant would be allowed a 9 MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 maximum of 64 square feet on a freestanding sign. A shopping center would be allowed 120. Commissioner Bradley stated that we have to take into consideration that we are rewewing the sign code. There has been discussion about having people change their existing signs in the future. He said we are going against the standard and the tradition that is currently in place. He felt it needs to be a 64 square foot sign. Commissioner Tillman agreed. He thinks we need something compatible and useful for the area. He felt large signs would dominate properties and all the tenants will want them. Mr. Campanile pointed out that this Cracker Barrel Restaurant is a four acre site. Home Depot is about 15 or 20 acres, and Burger King would be about one acre. So, this is not a small site. ~t is a pretty good size site. Vice Mayor Jaskiewicz mentioned that she has seen several Cracker Barrels and they had varying size signs. The motion carried 5-0. City Manager Parker clarified that the colors of the whole center will now reflect the tan, orange, and brown motiL and that the blue will be eliminated. Mr. Morton advised that an application will be filed for the five foot variance. The color theme will be orange and red, and dark blues and greens will be eliminated. City Manager Parker asked for the Commission's feelings towards additional pylon signs. The Commission indicated that they would like monument signs instead. Mr, Morton advised that he is waiting for Burger King's plans for the front outparcel. Discount Auto and the third user ~n the outparcel do not need pylon signs. However, Burger King traditionally has a pylon sign He stated that he is entitled to one more pylon sign, but he is saving it for the big box user. Mayor Taylor suggested that Mr, Morton do his best to get Burger King to agree to a monument sign. 10 MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MAY 14, 1996 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Recording Secretary (Two Tapes) Commissioner Co~issioner 11