The City of Fort Atkinson Plan Commission approved a sign package Oct. 8 for Casey's General Store, 342 Whitewater Avenue, permitting replacement of existing wall and canopy sign faces and replacement of the fuel-price pylon sign face, subject to conditions to bring the pylon into compliance with the city height limit.

City Engineer Sully explained the application includes two wall signs on the north and east façades, three canopy signs (one on each visible side of the gas canopy) and a pylon fuel-price sign. "The canopy signs are approximately 23 square feet each," Sully said, and the pylon sign face is about 42 square feet. Sully briefed the commission on the zoning interpretation that allows replacement of sign faces as maintenance under section 15-09056(p) of the zoning code when existing mounts and structural elements remain unchanged.

Sully said the canopy replacements meet code under that interpretation, but noted the existing pylon structure currently measures roughly 20.5 feet because of a decorative weather vane at the top. The city's sign-height maximum is 18 feet; staff recommended approval on the condition that the weather vane be removed or the structure otherwise reduced so the pylon meets the 18-foot maximum.

Heather English, the sign applicant representative, confirmed removal of the weather vane would not be an issue. "They can go with just removal of that proposed weather vane on the top. That's not an issue," she said, and added she had verified the rendering's measurement.

Commissioners asked whether the canopy signs would remain internally illuminated; English and staff confirmed the existing internally illuminated faces would be replaced with similar faces. Commissioners expressed general support for the updated, modern design. The commission approved the sign package by voice vote subject to the two staff conditions: (1) canopy face replacements may remain at the existing mounts and sizes (23 square feet each) only so long as the mounts/structural elements are unchanged, and (2) remove or reduce the decorative weather vane so the pylon height is 18 feet or less.

Sully said if the structural elements or mounts for canopy signs are changed in the future, the sign faces would need to be reduced to meet the ordinance. The motion carried on a voice vote; transcript notes indicate ayes and no opposed but do not record an exact roll-call tally.