Planning commission debates internally lit canopy signs for downtown, delays vote to Oct. 23

LEXINGTON, Va. — The Lexington Planning Commission continued its public hearing Sept. 11 on a proposed zoning change that would allow internally illuminated canopy signs in the C‑1 and C‑2 zoning districts, delaying a final vote until the commission’s Oct. 23 meeting.

The amendment — filed as ZOA 2025‑03 by applicant Francisco ("Frankie") Benincasa — would add canopy-mounted, channel‑letter signage to downtown sign rules. Commissioners spent more than an hour discussing maximum letter heights, overall sign area, whether letters must be "open face" channel letters or may include diffusers or backlighting, and technical illumination limits such as lumens and color temperature.

Why it matters: the change would alter the appearance of downtown Lexington by permitting a new type of externally visible lighting on storefront canopies, a form of signage the city has not previously regulated in this way. Commissioners said the rules will guide future applications and the Architectural Review Board (ARB) in deciding design appropriateness.

Most important details

- The commission agreed on preliminary dimensional guidance rather than a final ordinance text: commissioners favored a two-tier height limit tied to building height — roughly 12‑inch letters for…