Twelve movie-poster cases, six wall-mounted identification signs and a 10-foot-tall, double-sided LED animated free-standing monument sign on Riggs Road are planned for the anticipated Fat Cats entertainment center in the Town of Queen Creek.
The business is to be constructed approximately 575 feet west of the northwest corner of Ellsworth and Riggs roads. The Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council approved a rezoning and site plan for the case earlier this year.
The commission on April 8 approved the comprehensive sign plan proposed for the entertainment center.
Following the recommendations from the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people, as well as federal and state emergency declarations related to COVID-19, the meeting was attended electronically by the commission, town staff, applicants and the public.
The Fat Cats venue includes one 61,000-square foot building with eight movie theaters, 20 bowling lanes, arcade games, dining, mini golf and party rooms, Sarah Clark, senior planner/project manager, said at the meeting.
Animated signs are prohibited by the Zoning Ordinance, so Fat Cats is asking for a deviation from the standards, she said.
“Currently, the Zoning ordinance prohibits animated signs and the applicant is requesting one 38.5-square-foot LED animated monument sign that includes static images that change every eight to 10 seconds. The applicant has also proposed that the sign will be illuminated, but it begins dimming at dusk to 50%,” she said.
“It’s also important to note that the zoning ordinance also includes a provision that states if an applicant would like electronic signage they would have to go through the planning commission for approval through the CUP process,” she said of a conditional use permit.
The sign meets all other requirements for monument signage including maximum height and square footage, Erik Swanson, interim planning administrator, and Ms. Clark said in a memo to the commission.
“The monument sign incorporates stone, slump block and a concrete cap, which is consistent with the materials used in the screen walls for the site,” they said in the memo.
Rob Friend of Fat Cats Entertainment told the commission that the static images on the sign will promote more than just upcoming movies.
“We project every eight to 10 seconds new releases and not only ‘coming soon’ or ‘now showing’ static images, but ... we’re a unique family entertainment center and we share the vision of the Town of Queen Creek in providing something very unique where we have lots of stuff under one roof,” he said.
“So it’s critical for our business not to be able to just show the movie static images but also to tell our customers and the public about events and special showings that we are having in the center,” he said.
The same LED signage is at the Fat Cats projects in Gilbert on Baseline Road and in Saratoga Springs, Utah, Mr. Friend said.
Other deviations sought from the Zoning Ordinance are for building-mounted wall signage, increasing maximum sign square footage and increasing maximum aggregate sign square footage, town officials said.
“Fat Cats recommends that the signage standards be modified and tailored to this distinct development. This will enable Fat Cats to display its corporate identification, similar to other large developments or anchors in the Town of Queen Creek,” Mr. Swanson and Ms. Clark said in the memo.
“It is noted that the proposal includes one building with multiple entertainment options --- bowling, arcade, dining and theater uses --- that are typically ran by separate business entities. These are combined under one roof, which has the effect of reducing the overall impact of multiple signs on the property and providing a consistent style,” they said in the memo.
“Based on the unique use and the scale of the building in relation to sign size, staff has reviewed the deviations and supports the applicant’s requests,” they said.
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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