Zoning Board Allows Exception For Sign
July 23, 2019 at 12:20 a.m.
By David [email protected]
Mark Ritchie, of RWL Sign Co., Kalamazoo, Mich., petitioned the BZA for a variance from development standards to allow a 25-foot sign in an Industrial-2 zoning district at 2020 Polk Drive.
City Senior Planner Justin Taylor told the board 12 feet is the maximum permitted height in all industrial districts. The petitioner is concerned that a 12-foot sign will not be noticeable from U.S. 30.
“Historically, this board has approved variance requests to alter height restrictions for signage along the U.S. 30 corridor,” Taylor said.
Based on information provided, he said it was the opinion of the Warsaw Planning Department that the case could be viewed favorably “when measured by the criteria delineated within the findings of fact.”
Ritchie said he was asking for the additional 13 feet for the visibility going down U.S. 30.
“We’re not even going to be close to the right of way. I was just at the site today and my crank truck has got to be on solid ground and it’s mud out there. So this isn’t even going to be close to the highway. I can’t get out of there. I can get down there, but I can’t get out of there. So I can say we won’t even be close to the right of way,” he said.
Dan Smith, BZA member, asked how far back from U.S. 30 would the sign be. Ritchie said it was supposed to be 70-plus feet back from the highway but there’s a fence where he thinks the right of way is and then “nothing but mud” for another 25 yards.
“I can’t get a truck down in there,” Ritchie said, noting he’ll have to make some calls today to figure out where the sign is going to go.
The board unanimously approved the petition.
Another petition was tabled by the board to its August meeting based on a recommendation of the planning department.
Taylor said it was “because of the unfulfilled portion of the process for public advertisement. It was not run in the paper 10 days prior to the meeting.”
The petition was by Nathan Prieshoff for a use variance to allow a tattoo parlor in a Commercial-4 zoning district at 112 E. Center St.
City Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins wrote a letter to the planning department and the BZA expressing her concerns about allowing tattoo parlors in a C-4 district.
Mark Ritchie, of RWL Sign Co., Kalamazoo, Mich., petitioned the BZA for a variance from development standards to allow a 25-foot sign in an Industrial-2 zoning district at 2020 Polk Drive.
City Senior Planner Justin Taylor told the board 12 feet is the maximum permitted height in all industrial districts. The petitioner is concerned that a 12-foot sign will not be noticeable from U.S. 30.
“Historically, this board has approved variance requests to alter height restrictions for signage along the U.S. 30 corridor,” Taylor said.
Based on information provided, he said it was the opinion of the Warsaw Planning Department that the case could be viewed favorably “when measured by the criteria delineated within the findings of fact.”
Ritchie said he was asking for the additional 13 feet for the visibility going down U.S. 30.
“We’re not even going to be close to the right of way. I was just at the site today and my crank truck has got to be on solid ground and it’s mud out there. So this isn’t even going to be close to the highway. I can’t get out of there. I can get down there, but I can’t get out of there. So I can say we won’t even be close to the right of way,” he said.
Dan Smith, BZA member, asked how far back from U.S. 30 would the sign be. Ritchie said it was supposed to be 70-plus feet back from the highway but there’s a fence where he thinks the right of way is and then “nothing but mud” for another 25 yards.
“I can’t get a truck down in there,” Ritchie said, noting he’ll have to make some calls today to figure out where the sign is going to go.
The board unanimously approved the petition.
Another petition was tabled by the board to its August meeting based on a recommendation of the planning department.
Taylor said it was “because of the unfulfilled portion of the process for public advertisement. It was not run in the paper 10 days prior to the meeting.”
The petition was by Nathan Prieshoff for a use variance to allow a tattoo parlor in a Commercial-4 zoning district at 112 E. Center St.
City Councilwoman Cindy Dobbins wrote a letter to the planning department and the BZA expressing her concerns about allowing tattoo parlors in a C-4 district.
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