Board approves variance for large rooftop decals at 1106 E. Gurley St.

The City of Prescott Board of Adjustments on Aug. 21, 2025 approved variance V25012 to allow an increase in wall-mounted signage from 50 square feet to 162 square feet for two roof-mounted decal signs at 1106 E. Gurley Street for Yavapai Landscaping.

City planning staff told the board the signs were installed without permits and that the application was processed after a complaint reached the zoning enforcement officer. Planning staff reviewed the request under the six review criteria in the Land Development Code (section 9.13) and said notices were mailed to owners within 300 feet, the property was posted and a legal notice was published to meet state statute public‑notice requirements.

The property is on East Gurley Street in a commercial area flanked by Scooter's Coffee to the west and Street Dreams car dealership to the east. Staff's presentation noted an existing 3-by-6 monument sign and a 4-by-6 wall-mounted sign; if the variance is approved the wall-mounted sign would be removed and the two roof decal signs would remain. The application asks to increase the allowed wall‑mounted signage from 50 square feet to 162 square feet to cover the two roof decals, which staff characterized as decals applied directly to the roof surface.

Jacob Lund, community planner, said staff had not found prior, directly comparable variances in the area and described the materials in the board packet. Mary Frederickson asked whether the appeal began with a public complaint; Lund said the matter originated with a zoning enforcement referral and no complainant had appeared at the hearing. The applicant, the owner of Yavapai Landscaping, told the board the decals have been on the roof about a year and argued they are less visually intrusive because they follow the corrugated roof pitch and are decals rather than backlit boxed signs. The applicant said he would remove an A-frame sign at the site if that would help, and offered to do community clean-up work although planning staff and the chair noted the board must confine its decision to the variance criteria.

Board members questioned whether the graphics would amount to a billboard. Planning staff explained the city's Land Development Code allows only preexisting billboards and prohibits new billboards; staff also said billboards are defined for off‑site advertising and would not be permitted on a property to advertise its own on‑site business. Board discussion also addressed visibility from the road and the visual clutter along the corridor; one board member said the roof pitch made the decals less intrusive in his view and indicated an inclination to approve.

Mary Frederickson moved to approve V25012; a board member identified as Miriam seconded. The motion carried on a 4–1 vote. The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the hearing transcript; the staff packet and the board's motion record the final tally as 4 in favor and 1 opposed.

The variance allows the two roof decal signs to remain and the applicant to remove the existing 4-by-6 wall sign; any required permits or inspections to implement the change remain subject to city permitting procedures.