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Design Review Board

Level 1: Minor alteration of an existing building/structure
Level 1: Sign

7-D-23-DT

New signs for parking garage; new flat metal awnings. Awning review is after-the-fact; awnings have already been installed. The awning on Walnut St measures 5' wide and 28' long, and is installed 9.25' above the sidewalk. The awning on Clinch Ave measures 5' wide and 28' long, and is currently installed at 8'-6" above the sidewalk level.

Both signs measure 36" wide by 120" tall (30 sq. ft.), and are internally illuminated, with push-through lights spelling Public Parking. The sign on Walnut St is 11'-6" above the sidewalk, and the sign on Clinch Ave is 10'-10" above the sidewalk. The applicant intends to install the new signs in the same location as the existing projecting signs.

Location
500 Clinch Ave.
Owner
Jerrod Herron Knoxville Properties Partnership
Applicant Request
New signs for parking garage; new flat metal awnings. Awning review is after-the-fact; awnings have already been installed. The awning on Walnut St measures 5' wide and 28' long, and is installed 9.25' above the sidewalk. The awning on Clinch Ave measures 5' wide and 28' long, and is currently installed at 8'-6" above the sidewalk level.

Both signs measure 36" wide by 120" tall (30 sq. ft.), and are internally illuminated, with push-through lights spelling Public Parking. The sign on Walnut St is 11'-6" above the sidewalk, and the sign on Clinch Ave is 10'-10" above the sidewalk. The applicant intends to install the new signs in the same location as the existing projecting signs.
Staff Comments
The guidelines for the Grid District recommend projecting signs on modest size (9 sq. ft.), with larger signs approved by the Board. New projecting signs approved by the Board are typically around 11-15' sq. ft., with the largest projecting signs approved for businesses on Gay Street. The existing signs were installed prior to the creation of the Downtown Design Review Board and do not conform with the design guidelines. The new signs, both at 30 sq. ft., serve to indicate a parking garage, and should be reduced in size to meet the design guidelines. The internal illumination indicated on the sign drawings meets the guidelines and past Board approvals. The signs should meet the relevant aspects of the City sign code (13.5.B), with its width not extending closer than 20" to the curb.

The awnings were installed without the required City permits and design review approval. Awnings should meet the relevant aspects of the City zoning code, including 10.3.F, which requires a vertical clearance of at least 9' from the sidewalk, not to exceed more than two-thirds width of the sidewalk. The Clinch Avenue awning does not currently meet code as installed, located 8'-6" above the sidewalk, and will need to seek a variance or be removed and reinstalled at least 9' above the sidewalk. Awnings, as installed or revised, should meet the relevant aspects of the City zoning code and building codes.
Applicant

Jerrod Herron

Planning Staff
Lindsay Lanois
Phone: 865-215-3795
Email: lindsay.lanois@knoxplanning.org
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