January 29, 2003 TO: FROM: APPLICANT: BY: The County Board of Arlington, Virginia Ron Carlee, County Manager S.A.I.C. Martin D. Walsh, Agent/Attorney Walsh, Colucci, Lubeley, Emrich, & Terpak, PC 2200 Clarendon Boulevard, 13th Floor Arlington, Virginia 22201 SUBJECT: SP #135 Site Plan Amendment: CESC Gateway Square, LLC, Martin D. Walsh, Attorney/Agent, roof top sign; on premises known as 1213 Jefferson Davis Hwy. (RPC #34-024-268) RECOMMENDATION: Approve the requested site plan amendment subject to all previous conditions and one (1) new condition. SITE: ZONING: The 95,008 square foot (2.18 acre) site is located on the east side of Jefferson Davis Highway between 12 th and 14 th Streets South. The Crystal Gateway IV was built in 1985 as part of the Crystal Gateway development. To the north of the site is the Crystal Gateway North office building, which is 117 feet in height, zoned C-O-1.5 and designated Low Office-Apartment-Hotel on the General Land Use Plan. C-O Commercial Office Building, Hotel and Multiple-Family Dwelling Districts LAND USE: A mixed designation of High Office-Apartment-Hotel District (3.8 FAR office; 4.8 FAR apartment; and 3.8 FAR hotel) and High Residential (4.8 FAR residential and 3.8 FAR hotel). NEIGHBORHOOD: Crystal City STAFF: Rebecca Torma, DCPHD, Planning Division County Attorney: County Board Meeting February 8, 2003
SP #135-2- BACKGROUND This building was originally approved in 1966, as the North Apartments, a luxury condominium building in the Phase II mixed-use development of Jefferson Plaza. In 1983, a site plan amendment was approved to reduce the number of condominium units and replace them with office space. The office space was located in the north portion of the building. SAIC moved into the building in 1991 and currently occupies 25 percent of this building. DISCUSSION The Sign Guidelines for Site Plan Buildings set forth standards as to the number and size of rooftop signs. They state that the total permitted area of rooftop signs for any building is to be computed on the basis of one square foot of sign for each linear foot of building wall length measured along the street frontage, and that no more than two rooftop signs should be permitted per building. The applicant has requested approval for one rooftop sign to be located on the northwest corner of the building. This proposed sign has 111 square feet total and will measure six (6) feet high and 18.5 feet long. The sign will face the north and be internally lit with blue letters. The office portion of the building has approximately 190 feet of linear frontage, allowing, by the guideline standards, 190 square feet of rooftop sign area. The proposed sign will be within the Sign Guidelines for Site Plan Buildings limits. The proposed sign will primarily face the elevated highway of I-395. It can also be seen from Route 110 going southbound, although, the Crystal Gateway North office building will partially block the sign. The proposed sign should not impact any residents because the location of the sign is further north than the residential section of Pentagon City. CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS: Staff notified the Aurora Highlands and the Arlington Ridge Civic Associations. The Arlington Ridge Civic Association reported they did not believe the neighborhood would substantially object to this sign. As of the writing of this report, staff has not received any response from the other civic association. CONCLUSION Staff conclude that the rooftop sign is consistent with the Sign Guidelines for Site Plan Buildings. The blue letters and the proposed sign facing Crystal Gateway North building will reduce the impact to neighbors on the west side of Route 1. Therefore, staff recommend approval of a site plan amendment to permit one illuminated rooftop sign located on the north elevation, subject to all previous conditions and one new condition.
SP #135-3- 1. The developer agrees to limit the rooftop signage to one (1) tenant identification sign on the north elevation at the location and in the design shown on the drawings submitted to the County from Jack Stone Sign Co. dated August 26, 2002. The total area for the rooftop sign shall be limited to no more than 111 square feet, and the sign shall be illuminated only as shown on the drawings dated August 26, 2002. The Zoning Administrator may approve a change to the wording of this rooftop sign provided the sign area is not greater than 111 square feet, and location and structure of the sign remain the same.
SP #135-4- PREVIOUS COUNTY BOARD ACTIONS: October 4, 1966 October 29, 1966 November 19, 1966 November 21, 1966 June 17, 1967 December 17, 1967 December 21, 1968 October 11, 1969 March 25, 1970 July 8, 1970 September 23, 1970 October 26, 1974 November 19, 1977 Deferred rezoning from "M-2" to "C-O". Deferred rezoning from "M-2" to "C-O". Deferred rezoning from "M-2" to "C-O". Rezoned to "C-O" and approved a site plan for a mixed use development consisting of 1,505,000 sq. ft. of office, 64,000 sq. ft. of retail, 275 dwelling units and 30 hotel units. Approved a site plan amendment to increase commercial space and residential units and reduce office space. Approved a site plan amendment in increase office gross floor area in building one. Approved a site plan amendment for signs for Holiday Inn. Approved a site plan amendment for a temporary sign. Approved a site plan amendment for signs. Approved a site plan amendment for signs. Approved a site plan amendment to increase retail space. Approved a site plan amendment to amend Phase II (Crystal Gateway) to all residential resulting in three (3) 15,434 sq. ft. of office, 17,324 sq. ft. of retail, 1,246 dwelling units, and 308 hotel units (expired). Approved a site plan amendment, amending the vested 1967 plan to reduce office and
SP #135-5- commercial and increase residential resulting in 792,634 sq. ft. of office, 60,534 sq. ft. of retail, 566 dwelling units and 308 hotel units (expired). April 7, 1979 August 21, 1979 February 9, 1980 July 10, 1982 February 5, 1983 February 5, 1983 Approved a site plan amendment, amending the vested 1967 plan to add height and slightly increase residential density resulting in 1,489,511 sq. ft. of office, 86,893 sq. ft. of retail, 360 dwelling units and 308 hotel units. Deferred site plan amendment to amend parcel lines. Accepted withdrawal of site plan amendment to amend parcel lines. Approved a site plan amendment to allow change in phasing requirements. Approved a site plan amendment for a coordinated sign system for Crystal City. Approved site plan amendment request 2003-72-1 and Z-2180-80-1) to permit 4 "Crystal City" identifier pylon signs, 23 pylon directional signs, 4 entrance canopies with signs, and 1 "Crystal Plaza Shopping Arcade" wall-mounted sign. March 5, 1983 Deferred a site plan amendment to delete 118 residential units and add 200,000 square feet of office. April 9, 1983 Deferred a site plan amendment to delete 118 residential units and add 200,000 square feet of office. May 21, 1983 Accepted withdrawal of a site plan amendment to delete 118 residential units and add 200,000
SP #135-6- square feet of office. January 7, 1984 Approved a site plan amendment to delete 118 residential units and add 200,000 square feet of office. July 8, 1989 August 12, 1989 November 17, 1990 January 5, 1991 February 9, 1991 Deferred site plan amendment request 2003-72-1 and Z-2180-80-1) for a coordinated sign plan consisting of 60 new signs and retention of 13 existing signs to the August 12, 1989 County Board meeting. Approved site plan amendment request 2003-72-1 and Z-2180-80-1) for a coordinated sign plan consisting of 60 new signs and retention of 13 existing signs including Metro Station and Buchanan House signage. Deferred site plan amendment request comprehensive sign plan to permit modification of an existing theater marquee to an electronic message board. Deferred site plan amendment request comprehensive sign plan to permit modification of an existing theater marquee to an electronic message board. Approved a site plan amendment request comprehensive sign plan to permit modification of an existing theater marquee to an electronic message board subject to two (2) conditions.
SP #135-7- Approved a site plan amendment request comprehensive sign plan to permit two temporary office leasing banners at heights below 35 feet on two office buildings and accepted withdrawal of the request for temporary residential leasing banners. December 7, 1991 August 14, 1993 October 8, 1995 July 20, 1996 May 16, 1998 Approved a site plan amendment request comprehensive sign plan for a replacement project identification sign at South Clark Street and 23rd Street South, subject to conditions. Approved a site plan amendment request to enclose balconies with sliding glass windows, subject to a condition. Approved a site plan amendment request to permit the temporary conversion of 1,346 square feet of retail g.f.a. for use as a flight simulation area. Approved a site plan amendment to extend the approval to use 1,346 square feet of retail g.f.a. for use as a flight simulation area. Approved a site plan amendment to extend the approval to use 1,346 square feet of retail g.f.a. for use as a flight simulation area to December 31, 2000. July 20, 2002 Approved a site plan amendment for a 206 square foot rooftop sign located at 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway.