Item 8AAGENDA ITEM # 8A
JUNE 25, 2007
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Comfort Inn Sign
SUBMITTED BY: Sonya Doerr, AICP
Community Development Director
DATE: June 14, 2007 ~~
BACKGROUND: On November 13, 2006, the City Commission approved a Waiver from the
City's sign regulations to allow face panel replacement for the existing Comfort Inn sign located at
2401 Mayport Road, which had been damaged by storms, subject to the following conditions:
This Sign Waiver is granted for a temporary time period, and shall expire July O1, 2007.
• Prior to July O1, 2007, the applicant shall submit a report to the City Commission
addressing how the existing sign will be brought into compliance with current sign
regulations.
Pursuant to these conditions, the Applicant returns to the City Commission to request that the
existing sign be permitted to remain for a period not to exceed four years at which time the hotel
will be converted to a Quality Inn, with a new sign that will comply with the current sign
regulations. This 4-year time period would still bring this sign into compliance sooner than the
September 09, 2012 date when all nonconforming signs must be brought into compliance.
BUDGET: No budget issues.
RECOMMENDATION: Consider request to extend previously approved Sign Waiver for a
period of time not to exceed four (4) years, which date shall be June 25, 2011.
ATTACHMENTS: Applicant's letter of request, Staff Report and Minutes from November 13,
2006 City Commission meeting.
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
June 25, 2007 regular meeting
AGENDA ITEM # 8A
JUNE 25, 2007
SHEA INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT & INVESTMENTS
May 25, 2007
Ms. Sonya Doerr
Atlantic Beach City Hall
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233
Dear Ms. Doerr:
Pursuant to the temporary sign waiver, we request to be placed on the June 11,
2007 meeting agenda.
Our purpose is to propose an Agreement between the City of Atlantic Beach and
the Comfort Inn -Mayport (the "Agreement") for a period of four years. In accordance
with an existing contract with Choice Hotels International, the Comfort Inn -Mayport
will be changing from a Comfort Inn to a Quality Inn no later than four years from now.
In the Agreement with the City of Atlantic Beach, we would propose that the existing
Comfort Inn sign be allowed to remain as it currently exists until the franchise is changed
to a Quality Inn. That event will occur no later than four years from now. At such time,
the existing Comfort Inn -Mayport hotel will be completely renovated and refurbished
and will become a Quality Inn. The hotel will fully comply with all sign ordinances in
existence at the time of conversion.
Thank you for your assistance with this matter. Please let us know whether you
require anything further from us regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
~t/
John W. Shea
President
2407 MAYPORT ROAD, ATLANTIC BEACH, FL 32233 • (904) 242-0708 • FAX (904) 242-0789 EMAIL: SHEADEV@BELLSOUTH.NET
AGENDA ITEM # 8A
JUNE 25, 2007
November 21, 2006
John W. Shea
Comfort Inn
2401 Mayport Road
Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233
Dear Mr. Shea:
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
BUILDING AND PLANNING
800 SEMINOLE ROAD
ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA 32233-5445
TELEPHONE: (904) 247-5826
FAX: (904) 247-5845
www.coab.us
E\~E~OQv
This letter serves to confirm that the City Commission, on November 13, 2006, approved your
request for a Waiver from the City's sign regulations to allow for the full face panel replacement
for the existing Comfort Inn sign, which is a nonconforming pylon sign, located at 2401 Mayport
Road, subject to the following conditions:
• This Sign Waiver is granted for a temporary time period, and shall expire July O1, 2007.
• Prior to July O1, 2007, the applicant shall submit a report to the City Commission
addressing how the existing sign will be brought into compliance with current sign
regulations.
Please be advised that a Sign Permit is required for this face replacement, and you may contact
me at 247-5826 with any questions.
Sincerely,
~~~-
Sonya B. Doerr, AICP
Community Development Director
cc: Donna Bussey, City Clerk
Jun Hanson, City Manager
AGENDA ITEM # 8A
JiJNE 25, 2007
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEMi Request. from.- the Comfort Inn located' at 2401 Mayport liaad to
allow far full sign face replacement on a nonconforming pylon sign.
SUBMITTED SY: Sa~ya Doerr,. AICP
Community Development Director
DATE: October 30, 206
BACKGROUND: Section. 17-'S1 (3) iv. of the Sign regulations requires that non-
conforzxzing signs be brought into compliance with the current regulations when the alteration
to a sign involves: Any charge, ~%hich alters the nxaterral used for the l~is~lay Area ar Face
Area by more than .twenty-five (25} percent.
"l`he Cazrzfort Xnn, located at 2.401 Maypart Road, has requested a waiver to the above provision.
to allaw'far face replacement after the existing sign face eras damaged by hurricane winds two
years ago. The owner of-the Comfort lnn applied for a sign permit Iast surrzn~zer to replace the
sign faces, and was advised of this provision at that time. The owner was also aware that a
corporate logo change eras pending, and delayed any further immediate action related to the
sign. The owner has informed staff that Choice Hotels, the corporate managezxzent far Comfort
Inns, now requires that the damaged sigrl be repaired and replaced with the new corporate logo
for the hotel chain, or risk revocation of the franchise. The only proposed changes to the
existing Corrrfart Inn sign are replacerxzent of the tz~~a acrylic faces (see attached), an upgrade to
the lighting assembly which surrounds the internally illuminated sign.. and repainting of the
existing pole.
Four waivers to the face replacement provision have been requested si:ncc the sign regulations
were re-r~vritten in 2002. Requests from. two fuel/convenience markets (the BP station located
at 1211 Mayport Road and the Valera at 1480 Mayport Road) requested full. face replacement
when those-businesses changed ownership. Those requests were denied. and the two new signs
were constructed to canforzn to the sign regulations.
A third waiver was approved for PanAm luli.n.i-Storage at 2383 I4layport R.aad to permit face
replacement. after that sign face was damaged by a gunshot, with notice to the business owner
that all signs are required to carrzply with. current sign regulations by .September 09, 2412.
BUDGET: No budget issues.
RErCOMMENDATZ41'V: Consider request for a Waiver from tllc Sign regulations to allow
full replacement of the material used for tlxe Sign Face Area on an existing Nonconforming
Sign. forthe Comfort Inez. located a#.2401 Mayport'Road..
ATTACHMENTS: Application and photographs.
REVIEV~'ED BY CITY MANAGEit:
November 13, 2006 meeting
AGENDA ITEM # SA
JUNE 25, 2007
November 13, 2006 REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING Pasie 9
B. Request from the Comfort Inn located at 2401 Mayport Road to allow for full sign face replacement
on a nonconforming pylon sign
Ms. Doerr referred to her staff report and explained the background on the item.
John Shay, 2401 Mayport Road, applicant (accompanied by Sarah Tafee, General Manager of Comfort Inn and his
daughter, Anna Shea, Attorney from Rogers Towers) gave an overview of the background and explained his
reasons for requesting a waiver. He pointed out the need to repair or replace the sign before December 31S` in
order to keep his current franchise.
Commissioner Borno asked for clarification that his franchise will expire in four years and will change from
Comfort Inn to a different hotel chain. Mr. Shea confirmed and explained he will then become a Quality Inn and
the sign will be torn down and replaced with a conforming sign.
Further discussion ensued.
Motion: Grant a waiver from the Silrn reszulations to allow full replacement of the material used for the Si>sn
Face Area on an existinlr Nonconforminss Sign for the Comfort Inn located at 2401 Mayport Road to expire
on December 1.2010.
Motion by Borno
MOTION DIED (due to a lack of a second).
Motion: Deny the request for a waiver
Moved by Waters, seconded by Fletcher
Discussion ensued regarding whether the sign could be lowered to comply with the city ordinance and still satisfy
the franchise requirements. It was determined that landscaping and structural changes would have to be done in
order to bring the sign into compliance and be clearly visible from the street.
Anna Shea explained the Quality Inn logo sign is square and the Comfort Inn sign is rectangular and would require
a completely separate and different monumental sign.
She reiterated Mr. Shea's hardship and lack of time being given to make major changes.
City Manager Hanson suggested a shorter amount of time to comply be granted and allow Mr. Shea to replace the
faces with the ones he already owns. Further discussion ensued.
Mr. Shea was asked if eight months would be sufficient time for him to research the sign requirements of the City
and of the hotel franchise and decide on a sign that would satisfy both. Mr. Shea believed eight months to be
adequate time.
Commissioner Fletcher withdrew his second.
Motion: Grant a waiver to expire on July 1, 2007 from the Si>sn regulations to allow full replacement of the
material used for the Sign Face Area on an existing Nonconformin>s Si>sn for the Comfort Inn located at 2401
Mayport Road and that the applicant come back before the Commission to discuss what options he has to
briny the sign into compliance.
Moved by Borno, seconded by Waters
Mayor Wolfson explained that if the temporary waiver is approved, it would expire on July 1, 2007, therefore, Mr.
Shea would need to come back by June ls` to provide a new request.
Votes:
Aye: 4 -Borno, Fletcher, Waters, Wolfson
Nay: 0-
MOTION CARRIED
