ARLINGTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA County Board Agenda Item Meeting of October 17, 2015 DATE: October 6, 2015 SUBJECT: SP #1 SITE PLAN AMENDMENT REVIEW to modify Zoning Ordinance sign requirements and facade modifications including banners, at the Arlington Temple United Methodist Church; located at 1830 N. Fort Myer Drive, (RPC# 16-036-006). Applicant: Arlington Temple United Methodist Church 1830 North Fort Myer Drive Arlington, Virginia 22209 C.M. RECOMMENDATION: Renew the subject site plan amendment for modifications to Zoning Ordinance sign requirements and façade modifications including banners, subject to all previously approved conditions, and with no further scheduled County Board review. ISSUES: This is a site plan amendment review for a previously approved sign program and building lighting at the Arlington Temple United Methodist Church. No issues have been identified. SUMMARY: This is a site plan amendment review for a program of banner signs and building lighting approved in 2010 for Arlington Temple United Methodist Church. The sign program was intended to identify the church s entrance for pedestrians, and to provide a more aesthetically pleasing façade to the building s now dated early-1970s architecture. The banner signs and building lighting are in compliance with requirements set forth in Condition #3 as approved in 2010. No issues have been raised by the community or Rosslyn BID, and there are no undue adverse impacts resulting from the installed banner signs. Therefore, staff recommends the County Board renew the site plan amendment to modify Zoning Ordinance sign requirements and permit facade modifications including banners with no further scheduled County Board review. County Manager: ##### County Attorney: ***** Staff: Michael Cullen, DCPHD, Planning Division 1.
BACKGROUND: The subject property is a mixed-use building constructed under a site plan (SP #1) in 1971, with an Exxon gas station at the street level and a two-story church above. The church has a sanctuary, classrooms, a small chapel, and ancillary offices. It is also a part of the larger Ames Center site plan which also includes a 10-story office building constructed in 1966 located immediately adjacent to the south of the subject property, which is now largely occupied by the Art Institute of Washington. The subject amendment to approve banner signs and exterior lighting was approved in October 2010, subject to amended Condition #3 and a five (5) year review. Figure 1: Site Location DISCUSSION: This is a site plan amendment review for a program of banner signs and building lighting approved in 2010 for Arlington Temple United Methodist Church. The church was constructed as part of the Ames Center site plan in 1971 in accordance with the County s plans for Rosslyn at the time, which emphasized separation of pedestrians and cars. In accordance with these plans, the entrance to the church was constructed on the skywalk level and not from the street grade, and the church found that visitors had difficulty finding the entrance to the building. The program of decorative banners and architectural lighting approved in 2010 was intended to identify the church s entrance for pedestrians, and to provide a more aesthetically pleasing façade to the building s now-dated early-1970s architecture. The sign program includes five (5) decorative banners mounted from the roof above the skywalk on the south side of the building, five (5) sign banners mounted perpendicular to the wall on the skywalk, and pinmounted letters for Arlington Temple United Methodist Church above the skywalk entrance. There is no comprehensive sign plan approved with the original site plan, but sign calculations approved as part of this site plan amendment included signs approved for the gas station on the SP #1 Arlington United Methodist Church - 2 -
ground level. The signs were installed according to plans approved with the original site plan amendment and are in compliance with requirements set forth in Condition #3. No issues have been raised by the community or Rosslyn BID, and there are no undue adverse impacts resulting from the installed banner signs. Figure 2: Banners Visible from Right-of-Way Since the site plan amendment was approved (October 23, 2010): Site Plan Conditions: The applicant is in compliance with all conditions of the use permit. Community Code Enforcement: The Code Enforcement Office has not reported any issues over signs associated with the site plan amendment. Neighborhood: The site is located within the North Rosslyn Civic Association. Staff contacted the Civic Association and Rosslyn BID, who have not responded with comments or issues as of the date of this report. CONCLUSION: The banner signs and building lighting approved in 2010 for Arlington Temple United Methodist Church are in compliance with requirements set forth in Condition #3. No issues have been raised by the community or Rosslyn BID, and there are no undue adverse impacts resulting from the installed banner signs. Therefore, staff recommends the County Board renew the site plan amendment to modify Zoning Ordinance sign requirements and permit facade modifications including banners with no further scheduled County Board review. SP #1 Arlington United Methodist Church - 3 -
Approved Condition #3: 3. There shall be no freestanding signs. a. Arlington Temple United Methodist Church ( the applicant ) agrees that all existing signs on the property detailed in the chart in this report titled Approved Signs for Arlington Temple United Methodist Church ; that the applicant agrees that they are further permitted one (1) new pin-mounted sign above the church pedestrian entrance on the South façade, as such sign is shown on an exhibit prepared by EDD titled Building Section A3.0 and dated 05/24/2010 and approved by the County Board on October 23, 2010. The applicant also agrees that they are permitted no more than 103 square feet of area for banner signs on the property, such signs to be placed on the South façade of the building (the skywalk façade). b. The applicant agrees that minor changes to the approved signs and banners may be approved administratively by the Zoning Administrator. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, minor changes shall include only the following: (i) a minor adjustment in the location of a sign or banner to meet field conditions (less than 1 foot in any direction); or (ii) a minor change in the area of an individual sign or banner (less than 5%). c. The applicant agrees that the architectural lighting shall be generally as shown in the drawings prepared by EDD and dated 05/24/2010 and approved by the County Board on October 23, 2010. The lights shall not flash, and may be colored. The lights shall be shielded and aimed in such a way so the light will not spill into the sky or adjacent properties nor constitute a traffic hazard. SP #1 Arlington United Methodist Church - 4 -
PREVIOUS COUNTY BOARD ACTIONS: October 12, 1961 March 24, 1962 May 5, 1962 January 11, 1964 March 20, 1965 February 26, 1966 November 23, 1968 September 13, 1969 September 11, 1971 April 14, 1973 June 17, 1975 December 6, 1975 Approved a rezoning (Z-1564-61-2) of subject property from C-3 to C-O. Approved a site plan for a 12-story office building and a conceptual plan for a church, subject to conditions. Approved a site plan amendment to change the configuration of the building s plaza level. Approved a site plan amendment to reduce the gross floor area and density of the office building, subject to revised and new conditions. Approved a site plan amendment for the final design of the church structure, subject to conditions. Approved a site plan amendment for seven (7) radio masts to be located on the roof of the office building. Approved a site plan amendment for redesign of the church and classroom facilities, and construction of a gas service station at the street level, subject to all previous and two new conditions. Approved site plan amendment for incorporation of additional site area and construction of a new office tower (Ames Building South). Approved a use permit (U-1872-71-1) for a private school located at the Arlington Temple Church for a maximum of 48 students, ages 16-22, from 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Friday, subject to conditions and annual review. Approved a site plan amendment to separate the Ames Building South site from the site plan and create a new site plan for a hotel (SP #92). Discontinued use permit (U-1872-71-1). Approved a use permit (U-2039-75-2) for a day care center located at the Arlington Temple for 40 SP #1 Arlington United Methodist Church - 5 -
children, ages two to six years, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, subject to conditions and annual review. June 3, 1978 June 7, 1997 Renewed use permit (U-2039-75-2) for a day care center for 40 increased to 45 children, ages two to six years, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday subject to all previous conditions and with no further scheduled review. Approved a site plan amendment to add standard subdivision conditions regarding subdivision of the site into separate parcels. August 14, 1999 Approved a site plan amendment to convert 65,000 sq. ft. of existing office space to school use by The Art Institute of Washington. October 2, 1999 October 19, 2002 March 15, 2008 May 22, 2010 September 25, 2010 October 23, 2010 Approved a site plan amendment for a comprehensive sign plan including two (2) rooftop signs and one (1) building-mounted sign for a school of higher education (The Art Institute of Washington). Approved a site plan amendment for two (2) gas station signs, with one condition. Approved a site plan amendment for conversion of office space to school use by the Art Institute of Washington, subject to all previously approved conditions, two revised conditions, and a review in five years (March 2012). Approved a site plan amendment to expand the educational use in the Ames office building subject to all previously approved conditions and three modified conditions. Deferred a site plan amendment for signs to the October 23, 2010 Board hearing. Approved a site plan amendment signs and façade modifications including banners and architectural lighting, at the Arlington Temple United Methodist Church, subject to all previously previously approved conditions and revised Condition #3. SP #1 Arlington United Methodist Church - 6 -
1549 1545 RA6-15 C-O C-O 1541 N NASH ST 1850 19TH ST N 1417 1881 C-O-ROSS 1850 1881 1415 1413 1411 1401 KEY BLVD 1835 1400 FORT MYER DR 1815 1812 1811 1830 1830 1810 N MOORE ST N OAK ST N NASH ST 1820 RA-H-3.2 C-O 1401 1700 SP # 1 1835 N. Nash St. RPC # 16-036-006 Scale: ICase Location(s) 1:1,200 Note: These maps are for property location assistance only. They may not represent the latest survey and other information. Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development County Use Only Date Placard Posted By Removed