(c) Street Locations or Traffic Conditions in the Immediate Vicinity <br />Olsen Run is located along a busy corridor with significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic. In such <br />a high-traffic area, digital signage is not only more effective but also safer. Studies have shown <br />that drivers' glances at digital billboards average less than one second, which is well below the <br />risk threshold identified in major federal studies. This suggests that digital signage allows <br />passersby to absorb event information more quickly and with less distraction compared to <br />traditional static signage. <br />By restricting Olsen Run from using the same type of signage as other venues in this shared <br />corridor, the current interpretation of the code introduces a practical hardship in both safety and <br />visibility—particularly when others in the same traffic environment are allowed enhanced tools <br />for communication. <br />This request is not based on economic considerations but rather on the need for fair and <br />consistent application of the sign code in light of existing conditions. Given that similar venues <br />within the same zoning district are permitted to use electronic signage, I respectfully request that <br />the variance be granted to allow Olsen Run Comedy Club the same opportunity. Also based on <br />the broader intention of the city. <br />(2) There are exceptional or extraordinary circumstances or conditions applicable to the <br />property involved or to the intended use of the property that do not apply generally to other <br />properties classified in the same zone. <br />RESPONSE: <br />Olsen Run Comedy Club is uniquely positioned in a way that creates exceptional circumstances <br />not generally applicable to other properties in the same zoning district: <br />Proximity to a City-Owned Venue with an Electronic Sign <br />Directly across the street from my business is a City-owned theater that has been granted the <br />ability to use an electronic sign, despite being in the same zoning classification. This creates an <br />inherent inequity where a public venue enjoys the benefits of modern signage, while a private <br />venue, serving the same public need for arts and entertainment, is left at a competitive <br />disadvantage. <br />Surrounding Venues with Electronic Signs <br />Within a half-mile radius, two additional entertainment venues have received permission to <br />install electronic signage. While properties in this zoning district generally do not permit digital <br />signs, the concentration of exceptions granted to live event venues in close proximity makes my <br />request a matter of consistency and fairness, not a deviation. <br />Essential Function for a Live Entertainment Business <br />Live performance venues like Olsen Run Comedy Club rely heavily on visual promotion of who <br />is performing. Celebrity recognition is how you spark excitement and build community interest. <br />Being able to showcase the famous faces and names of well-known entertainers helps connect <br />people and generates buzz This is a marketing tool fundamentally more important for live event