Commission extends subdivision advertising signs for Alton Place development

The Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 11 approved an extension to permit subdivision advertising signs at the Alton Place Historic Conservation District (HCD), allowing developer Fisher Homes to retain several three-post multi-color signs for an additional three years under three staff conditions. The motion passed 6-0.

City planning staff said Alton Place HCD — previously approved by the city council on June 8, 2020 — includes single-family lots, attached residential units, commercial acreage and open space, and that the applicant requested continued use of subdivision advertising signs that exceed some normal sign standards. Staff noted the signs are roughly 12 feet tall with a 64-square-foot face and use five colors (white, blue, green, red, black). Because of the size of the overall development and traffic speeds on the adjacent streets, staff recommended approval for an additional three-year period with three conditions.

Staff explained the code’s 60% standard (60% of lots on the street) and said in this case staff recommended the 60% measure be applied to the entire development because of the development’s size. The staff presentation described the signs’ locations at Roberts Road and Sycamore Trace and at Bridgeview Trace and Alton Darby Road and included schematics of the three-post sign assemblies. No applicant representative appeared at the hearing and there were no public comments.

Formal action: a commissioner moved to approve the request (case cited in the record as p z 25 48 / Fisher Homes at Alton Place) with the three staff conditions; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call vote of 6-0. The roll call in the record shows affirmative votes from Commissioners Moog, Italiano, Martin, Vice Chair Papsidero, Marsh and Chair Schneck. The staff recommendation and the motion apply only to the subdivision advertising signs and the three conditions attached; staff noted that the extension could be re-evaluated if the development did not meet anticipated build-out milestones within the extension period.

Less critical details: staff said the signs’ appearance and placement were found “generally consistent with the intent of the code” given the development’s scale and sight lines; the record shows staff expects the signage situation to be revisited if the project timeline slips.