ZBA Minutes

MEETING
CITY OF WALKER
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Thursday, February 22, 2007
7:00 p.m.

The meeting of the Zoning Board of Appeals was called to order by Robert Marz, Chairman at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall 4243 Remembrance Rd., N.W., Walker, Michigan.

Members present: Robert Marz, Chairman; Roger Crabtree; Charles Deshaine; James Hickey; and Ken Fex. Members absent: Rebecca Haven and Tyler Korfhage. Also present: Jeff Nelson, Building Department and Bonnie Antcliff, Recording Secretary.

Property located at 4417 Leonard, NW also known on the tax rolls as 41-13-18-300-013.

The applicant’s request is to install a 4 x 8 ft. monument sign for West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science which exceeds the 6 sq. ft. allowed and the 42 in. maximum height allowance.

Robert Marz, Chairman reviewed the application and site plan submitted.

Robert Marz asked what the height requirement is for this sign?

Jeff Nelson replied it is 42 in. unless they are setback further and only 6 sq. ft. is allowed in the AA District.

Jim Hickey stated that the Planning Commission is changing this under the new master plan and we want 140 ft. and then the easement for the sidewalk, so they should set back anything on that corner 5 ft. inside of the sidewalk and 83 ft. from the centerline.

Jeff Nelson stated that right now the right-of-way is 50 ft. south, and 33 ft. north on Leonard and 100 ft. on Wilson.

Jim Hickey stated that where the applicant has 70 ft. marked on his plan, it should be 83 ft. to give us clearance for that we want.

Mr. Ter Haar, City Sign Erectors replied that we are asking 70 ft. off of the centerline.

Robert Marz asked what type of sign is this going to be?

Mr. Ter Haar replied it is going to be a lit sign with a changing message. The top half will be illuminated.

Jim Hickey commented that the Planning Commission has denied signs like this because they are very distracting. Faith United Church has a small sign. This one is much larger. He did not like the idea of a flashing sign here because of the amount of accidents that happen on that corner.

Charles Deshaine stated that we have not banned this type of sign but have put restrictions on some of them.

Robert Marz stated that he thought this would be alright as long as the message on the sign did not change too often. If the message changes every 5 minutes it would not be a problem.

Jeff Nelson stated that the ordinance now states that the sign cannot change any sooner than 30 seconds.

Charles Deshane asked what the intent was for the sign?

Mr. Ter Haar replied that it will be for messages for the school to advertise fund raisers and events. These signs will not be any brighter than a neon sign. Usually there are not more than one or two messages a day.

Ken Fex asked if they can advertise for anyone else?

Robert Marz replied they can only advertise school functions and not advertise for someone else.

Roger Crabtree stated he felt it should not flash any sooner than every five minutes.

Charles Deshaine moved and James Hickey supported the motion to approve the applicant’s request to install a 4 x 8 ft. monument sign for West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science which exceeds the 6 sq. ft. allowed and the 42 in. maximum height allowance.

a. The variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of a substantial property right similar to that possessed by other properties in the same zoning district and in the vicinity. K-12 school located on a highway of high volume traffic. This is a large agricultural parcel.

b. The variance is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of a substantial property right similar to that possessed by other properties in the same zoning district and in the vicinity. Similar signs in Walker are Walker Station 3971 Richmond Ct., Faith United Church of God, 3290 Walker Ave.

c. Authorization of the variance will not be of a substantial detriment to adjacent property and will not materially impair the intent and purpose of the ordinance or public interest in that the new sign will not block the vision of the intersection.

d. The condition or the situation of the piece of property or the intended use of the property for which the variance is sought is not of so general or recurrent a nature as to make reasonably practicable for the formulation of a general regulation. This is an uncommon request.

Does not apply.

The Board imposed the following conditions:

1. No sooner than 5 minutes between message changes.

Sign to be 83 feet from the center of the road not 70 ft.

Motion carried 5 to 0

Ken Fex moved and Roger Crabtree supported the motion to adjourn the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Motion carried 5 to 0.

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4243 Remembrance Rd. NW
Walker, MI  49534
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