SPECIAL SIGN DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2011 Planner: Carrie Gordon

FILE NUMBER: SPSD 112-001

DATE INITIATED: June 11, 2012

LOCATION: Area generally bounded by Jackson Street, Lamar Street, Pacific Street, and Cesar Chavez Boulevard. COUNCIL DISTRICTS: 2, 14 SIZE OF REQUEST: Approx. 173 acres APPLICANT: OFFICER(S): Downtown Dallas, Inc. John F. Crawford, President/CEO Kourtney Garrett, Senior Vice President Jim Wood, Director Consideration of amendments to the Downtown Special Provision Sign District, Section 51A-900 of the Dallas City Code, to amend the building occupancy requirements for non-premise district activity videoboard signs on buildings with retail and personal service uses to include commercial parking lot or garage and lodging uses. The purpose of this request is to allow non-premise district activity videoboards on parking structures and lodging uses. MAPSCO: 45-G,K,L,P,Q & R CENSUS TRACT: 31.01, 32.01

PROPOSAL:

SUMMARY:

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION: On August 24, 2011, the City Council approved an amendment to the Downtown Special Provision Sign District. According to Section 51A-4.701(d) of the Dallas Development Code, a new application on property within the SPSD cannot be filed prior to August 24, 2013, without a waiver of the two-year waiting period. On June 7, 2012, the City Plan Commission approved a waiver of the two-year waiting period. The Downtown Dallas, Inc. requests an amendment to the Downtown Special Provision Sign District regulations to allow placement of videoboards on buildings with lodging uses and parking structures to enhance the vibrancy of street life within the Retail Core. Ordinance No. 27481, adopted by City Council on February 11, 2009, allowed for non-premise district activity videoboard signs in the Downtown Special Provision Sign District. In this ordinance, there was a limit of five (5) videoboard signs. Ordinance No. 28347 was adopted by City Council on August 24, 2011. One of the amendments in this ordinance was to increase the number of videoboard signs in the Downtown SPSD to a total of 15 and increase the area in which the videoboard signs are allowed. The amendment also provided a provision whereby the Director may waive the occupancy requirements for up to one (1) year if it is determined that the building is being redeveloped. Five (5) videoboards were approved between 2009-2010. After the last ordinance update in 2011, 16 applications were submitted for 10 videoboards. Five (5) applications were approved and 11 were refunded because they were either parking garages or hotels.

Zoning History: The following are current videoboard SUP applications that lie within the Downtown SPSD Retail Core (see Exhibit A).
# 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 SUP/CASE NO. SUP #1755(SPSD 067-003) SUP #1788 (Z089-263) SUP #1791 (Z089-264) SUP #1796 (Z090-111) SUP #1955 (Z101-369) SUP #1956 (Z101-370) SUP #1957 (Z101-372) SUP #1958 (Z101-375) SUP #1959 (Z101-382) APPROVED 6/10/09 (two videoboards) 12/9/09 1/13/10 2/24/10 4/25/12 4/25/12 4/25/12 4/25/12 4/25/12 EXPIRATION 6/10/2015 12/9/2015 1/13/2016 2/24/2016 4/25/2013 4/25/2013 4/25/2018 4/25/2018 4/25/2018

SPSD 112-001 STAFF ANALYSIS: The general provisions of Section 51A-7.909(g) pertains to the occupancy of buildings upon which videoboards may be attached. Videoboard signs are only permitted on buildings with retail and personal service uses (other than commercial parking lot or garage) or office uses occupying at least 75 percent of the leasable ground floor area and an overall building occupancy of at least 50 percent. The director shall notify City Council of any building that falls below the occupancy requirements and fails to reestablish the occupancy requirement within 120 days. The director may waive the occupancy requirements of this subsection for up to one year if the director determines that the building or multi-building complex is currently being redeveloped. The director may revoke this waiver if redevelopment stops or is inactive for 90 days or more. The applicant submitted proposed amendment language as follows: (g) Building occupancy requirements. Non-premise district activity videoboard signs are only permitted on buildings with retail and personal service uses (other than that includes commercial parking lot or garage) lodging uses or office uses occupying at least 75 percent of the leasable ground floor area and an overall building occupancy of at least 50 percent. The proposed language would complement district activity within the Downtown SPSD Retail Core of PD No. 619; hence, not adversely impact the area.

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