Zoners Give Nod To New WCS Signs
November 28, 2017 at 7:26 p.m.
Warsaw Community Schools will install three high-tech LED signs for three of its buildings following approval by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night.
All three signs exceed what is allowed under city zoning codes, but the factor that tripped up members of the BZA was the brightness that could emanate from the permanent signs.
Those concerns were assuaged by representatives of the sign company, Graycraft Signs Plus, as well as school officials who expressed a willingness to work with neighbors if they find the signs too bright.
The new signs are planned for outside of Madison and Washington elementaries (and the nearby Central Office), but the most eye catching will be at the high school along Ind. 15S.
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That sign will replace one that is about 24 years old. It is expected to be only slightly larger, but the shape will change significantly. Whereas the existing sign is horizontal, the new one will be more vertical and about 19 feet tall. The portion of the sign that will feature digital messaging and video will remain about the same size, officials said.
The two other signs are smaller.
The sign near Washington will be about 7 feet tall and the messaging board will be roughly 7 feet by 3 feet.
The Lincoln sign is 14 feet wide and about 6 feet tall and has a reader board similar in size to Washington’s.
BZA officials expressed concern that the signs might create too much light at night, but Scott Gray, owner of Graycraft Signs Plus, said sensors have the ability to automatically adjust the brightness based on the amount of natural light.
The signs are much brighter during the day and use about 60 percent power, but are dimmed significantly at night and use about 7 percent of the potential power, Gray said.
Additionally, the signs can be manually adjusted to further dim the lights if needed, he said.
One board member suggested the high school sign be turned off at 11 p.m., but Jim LeMasters, director of facility operations and new construction, said they preferred to have that sign on 24 hours a day.
LeMasters also conveyed a sense of flexibility.
““We want to be good neighbors, so if there is an issue, we’ll be happy to work with you,” LeMasters said.
The signs will be used for messaging needs ranging from school delays to highlighting scholarly and athletic achievements.
LeMasters said messages can be updated quickly from a smartphone.
“It can be changed instantly,” he said. “It’s real handy.”
The requests had the support of the plan office.
One couple at the meeting expressed some concern about the lighting, but seemed satisfied knowing the brightness can be adjusted.
Variances were needed because of plans to have two illuminated signs within an R-1 district and because all of the signs are larger than what is normally accepted, according to assistant city planner Justin Taylor.
Requests for approval of the signs gained unanimous support from the five board members. None of the board members are graduates of Warsaw Community High School, but Tammy Dalton is a former school board member.
Also on the agenda was a request by a developer representing the Belle Augusta subdivision north of DePuy Synthes on the city’s east side. The developer requested a 5-foot side yard setback on homes that are part of a second phase of development.
The BZA granted the same request a year ago for homes that were part of the first phase.
The request was approved unanimously.
Warsaw Community Schools will install three high-tech LED signs for three of its buildings following approval by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night.
All three signs exceed what is allowed under city zoning codes, but the factor that tripped up members of the BZA was the brightness that could emanate from the permanent signs.
Those concerns were assuaged by representatives of the sign company, Graycraft Signs Plus, as well as school officials who expressed a willingness to work with neighbors if they find the signs too bright.
The new signs are planned for outside of Madison and Washington elementaries (and the nearby Central Office), but the most eye catching will be at the high school along Ind. 15S.
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That sign will replace one that is about 24 years old. It is expected to be only slightly larger, but the shape will change significantly. Whereas the existing sign is horizontal, the new one will be more vertical and about 19 feet tall. The portion of the sign that will feature digital messaging and video will remain about the same size, officials said.
The two other signs are smaller.
The sign near Washington will be about 7 feet tall and the messaging board will be roughly 7 feet by 3 feet.
The Lincoln sign is 14 feet wide and about 6 feet tall and has a reader board similar in size to Washington’s.
BZA officials expressed concern that the signs might create too much light at night, but Scott Gray, owner of Graycraft Signs Plus, said sensors have the ability to automatically adjust the brightness based on the amount of natural light.
The signs are much brighter during the day and use about 60 percent power, but are dimmed significantly at night and use about 7 percent of the potential power, Gray said.
Additionally, the signs can be manually adjusted to further dim the lights if needed, he said.
One board member suggested the high school sign be turned off at 11 p.m., but Jim LeMasters, director of facility operations and new construction, said they preferred to have that sign on 24 hours a day.
LeMasters also conveyed a sense of flexibility.
““We want to be good neighbors, so if there is an issue, we’ll be happy to work with you,” LeMasters said.
The signs will be used for messaging needs ranging from school delays to highlighting scholarly and athletic achievements.
LeMasters said messages can be updated quickly from a smartphone.
“It can be changed instantly,” he said. “It’s real handy.”
The requests had the support of the plan office.
One couple at the meeting expressed some concern about the lighting, but seemed satisfied knowing the brightness can be adjusted.
Variances were needed because of plans to have two illuminated signs within an R-1 district and because all of the signs are larger than what is normally accepted, according to assistant city planner Justin Taylor.
Requests for approval of the signs gained unanimous support from the five board members. None of the board members are graduates of Warsaw Community High School, but Tammy Dalton is a former school board member.
Also on the agenda was a request by a developer representing the Belle Augusta subdivision north of DePuy Synthes on the city’s east side. The developer requested a 5-foot side yard setback on homes that are part of a second phase of development.
The BZA granted the same request a year ago for homes that were part of the first phase.
The request was approved unanimously.