| ITEM #: 22. DATE: 02/28/2022 AI #:671 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | COMPREHENSIVE SIGN PACKAGE FOR VANTAGE DATA CENTERS |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Steve Careccia, Interim Planning Manager |
OTHER PRESENTER(S):
Katie Popov, Scott AG Environmental Graphics
SUMMARY
Request for approval of a comprehensive sign package (CSP) for Vantage Data Centers located at the southeast corner of Van Buren Street and Bullard Avenue.
Recommendation
Approve the Vantage Data Center Comprehensive Sign Program dated January 18, 2022, subject to stipulations. (Steve Careccia, Interim Planning Manager)
STIPULATIONS
All signs shall be in conformance with the Vantage Date Centers Comprehensive Sign Program dated January 18, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT
Although a fiscal impact analysis has not been conducted on this specific project, all new development will have an ongoing fiscal impact on the city. The development is responsible for construction of all infrastructure necessary to serve the site and will generate one-time revenue for the city through payment of permits, construction sales tax and development impact fees. Longer-term fiscal impacts include increased demands for municipal services, the costs of which may or may not be offset by increased Property values/tax levies, city sales tax, state shared revenues and the increased demand for commercial and retail development. Any areas that will be maintained by the city are constructed by the developer and then conveyed to the city two years after construction.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
The subject property (Property) is zoned C-2 (General Commercial) and I-1 (Light Industrial). The rezoning was approved on August 20, 2018 with City Council adoption of Ordinance No. 2018-1402.
A site plan was approved on September 28, 2020. The site plan included the development of a data center building on a portion of the Property.
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this item at their regular meeting of February 16, 2022. The Commission unanimously voted (6-0) to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council.
A site plan was approved on September 28, 2020. The site plan included the development of a data center building on a portion of the Property.
The Planning and Zoning Commission considered this item at their regular meeting of February 16, 2022. The Commission unanimously voted (6-0) to forward a recommendation of approval to the City Council.
STAFF ANALYSIS
Current Policy:
The purpose of a CSP is to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the design of signage that exhibits superior quality and effective messaging. In recognition of the benefits of cohesive and comprehensive sign design, modifications to the signage requirements as established in the city of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance may be appropriate within a CSP.
A CSP in compliance with the requirements provided in Article 7, Sign Regulations, of the Zoning Ordinance may be approved by the Zoning Administrator after review and approval by the Development Review Committee. A CSP that proposes modifications to the requirements provided in Article 7 shall be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the City Council. The subject request is the latter of the two CSP types described above, and therefore requires Commission and Council review and approval.
Details of the Request:
The request is for approval of a new CSP for the Property. Within the CSP, provisions for wall signs, canopy signs and ground signs are included. Specifically, the following signage is proposed:
*
*Vehicular Directional signs as required. To be located at intersections within project site to facilitate customer & delivery ease of circulation & traffic safety.
The wall signs, as proposed within the CSP, are consistent with the sign criteria as established within the Zoning Ordinance. No deviations are required for these signs. The proposed canopy signs, directional signs, and internal monument signs are all intended to help with wayfinding throughout the large data center campus. The monument signs along Bullard Avenue also serve wayfinding purposes, with a larger copy area intended to highlight the units within a particular data center building.
Signage as established with this CSP will be applicable to all phases of the Vantage Data Center campus.
Evaluation Criteria:
Article 7-10, Special Sign Areas, of the Zoning Ordinance establishes the criteria for the evaluation of a CSP. The criteria and accompanying staff analysis (italics) are provided below:
Staff Findings:
The request meets the evaluation criteria for a CSP as set forth in Article 7, Sign Regulations, of the Zoning Ordinance.
The purpose of a CSP is to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the design of signage that exhibits superior quality and effective messaging. In recognition of the benefits of cohesive and comprehensive sign design, modifications to the signage requirements as established in the city of Goodyear Zoning Ordinance may be appropriate within a CSP.
A CSP in compliance with the requirements provided in Article 7, Sign Regulations, of the Zoning Ordinance may be approved by the Zoning Administrator after review and approval by the Development Review Committee. A CSP that proposes modifications to the requirements provided in Article 7 shall be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by the City Council. The subject request is the latter of the two CSP types described above, and therefore requires Commission and Council review and approval.
Details of the Request:
The request is for approval of a new CSP for the Property. Within the CSP, provisions for wall signs, canopy signs and ground signs are included. Specifically, the following signage is proposed:
| SIGN TYPE | QUANTITY | SIZE (sq. ft.) | Deviation |
| Wall Sign (Skyline Sails) | 5 | 48 | No |
| Wall Sign (Skyline Logo) | 2 | 87 | No |
| Building Address | 10 | 8 | No |
| Canopy Sign | 10 | 11 | Yes |
| Directional Sign | *TBD | 12 | Yes |
| Monument Sign – Property ID | 3 | 64 | Yes |
| Monument Sign – Entry ID (internal) | 10 | 15 | Yes |
*Vehicular Directional signs as required. To be located at intersections within project site to facilitate customer & delivery ease of circulation & traffic safety.
The wall signs, as proposed within the CSP, are consistent with the sign criteria as established within the Zoning Ordinance. No deviations are required for these signs. The proposed canopy signs, directional signs, and internal monument signs are all intended to help with wayfinding throughout the large data center campus. The monument signs along Bullard Avenue also serve wayfinding purposes, with a larger copy area intended to highlight the units within a particular data center building.
Signage as established with this CSP will be applicable to all phases of the Vantage Data Center campus.
Evaluation Criteria:
Article 7-10, Special Sign Areas, of the Zoning Ordinance establishes the criteria for the evaluation of a CSP. The criteria and accompanying staff analysis (italics) are provided below:
- Size and Height: The comprehensive sign package shall demonstrate that all proposed signage is no larger than necessary for sufficient visibility and legibility. Factors to be considered in determining allowed size and height may include, but are not limited to, topography, traffic volumes, traffic speeds, visibility ranges, copy size and impact on adjacent property.
The application indicates the intent of the CSP is to provide signage to meet the operational needs of the data center campus, which will consist of three large buildings and up to 10 individual users, once fully completed. Size and height have been established to provide visibility from the adjacent arterial streets and to assist in wayfinding once inside the campus. Staff finds the proposed sizes, heights and configuration of the intended signage, and the requested deviations, are appropriate and supportable for a data center campus of the intended size, at this location.
- Location and Orientation: Signs should be located and oriented to allow sufficient visibility and legibility for pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Factors that may be considered in reviewing the appropriateness of the sign location and orientation may include, but are not limited to, location relative to the surrounding streets and land uses, traffic volumes and access points, visibility angles and topographic features.
The application indicates that signage is intended to be visible to customers and operational staff from Van Buren Street and Bullard Avenue, which are both arterials with higher traffic volumes and vehicular speeds. Building identification signs, including address, canopy and entrance monuments are proposed to take advantage of these frontages and then oriented throughout the site to assist with building identification and wayfinding.
- Design, Colors and Materials: Signs proposed under the comprehensive sign package shall be harmonious with and enhance the architecture and theme of the specific development in which the signs are located. Compatibility with the specific development shall include the use of complementary colors, materials and architectural style.
As established in the CSP, the signage will have a design theme consistent with the approved design of the buildings. As such, the intended design elements are considered appropriate and supportable.
- Surrounding Land Uses: Signs shall not adversely impact adjacent land uses, especially adjacent residential land uses. The comprehensive sign package shall demonstrate the measures that will be taken to ensure the proposed signage will not adversely impact adjacent land uses in terms of lighting, size, location and orientation.
The property is located within an established light industrial and technology corridor developed with data centers and several warehousing/distribution facilities. The size, type and number of proposed signs are consistent with other similar developments within this corridor and elsewhere within the city. As such, staff finds the intended signage will not adversely affect any adjacent land uses and is therefore appropriate and supportable.
Staff Findings:
The request meets the evaluation criteria for a CSP as set forth in Article 7, Sign Regulations, of the Zoning Ordinance.