Warsaw Zoners OK Multi-Tenant Office Building Sign Variance
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance from development standards to increase the square footage of a sign in a residential district. Tammy Dalton, board member, made the motion, seconded by Ron Shoemaker. Petitioner Bruce Woodward, who owns the building at 1934 E. Center St., attended the meeting to request the variance to increase the sign’s display space square footage from 16 square feet to 32 square feet. It will continue to be an unlit sign. The sign is east of Woodward Realty and advertises Warsaw’s Secret Fitness Studio, Safe Harbor Insurance Life and Health Agent, and two office spaces that are for lease. The sign also will display advertisement for Amber Blackford Attorney At Law. Woodward requested the square footage of the sign be increased to provide a larger display area. He said it is difficult for passersby to see the current sign as the signage is too small to read when traffic goes by at 35 miles per hour. The property is zoned residential, which allows 4-feet-tall, 16-square-feet signs. Any signs in the residential district that exceed that restriction are legal non-conforming signs. The Center Street Overlay district was created as a result of the comprehensive plan’s recommendation, according to Tim Dombrosky, assistant city planner. The district is intended to monitor commercial development on Center Street to ensure that it does not degrade the residential character of the corridor, but still allows for commercial activity. “I am fulfilling a need and providing small office spaces for multiple tenants in one building,” Woodward said. Woodward said the sign will be located behind the sidewalk and keep the residential character of the block and will remain unlit.
