Fluvanna BZA approves variance for oversized directional signs at property on tax map 11-9-2

The Fluvanna County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance request to allow directional signs larger than the 4-square-foot limit established in the county code for a property identified as tax map 11-9-2 in the Columbia Election District. The board approved the motion after a staff presentation, applicant comments and a brief discussion of traffic-safety concerns.

County staff member Todd explained the legal basis for the request and said the county sign ordinance generally exempts directional signs but that the ordinance definition caps directional sign area at 4 square feet. "You're requesting a variance for, requirements for directional signs," Todd said, noting the applicant had filed a separate, compliant highway business sign permit that was not part of the variance request.

The applicants, represented on Zoom by Joseph George and Alex Causey, asked for directional and wayfinding signs sized from about 4.5 square feet up to 20 square feet. "These signs improve the safety issues for, ingress and exit," Joseph George told the board. He and staff said some of the largest signs — labeled AS 16 on the plan — would be placed near the roadway to give drivers advance operational directions for associates, vans and trucks so there is less confusion on James Madison Highway.

Board members asked whether the ordinance's directional-sign language applied only to signs on public rights of way or also to private property; staff and the applicants pointed out that many of the proposed signs would be on private property but some AS 16 signs would be close enough to the right of way to be visible from the road. Applicants said the signs are intended primarily for employees, contractors and delivery drivers and that, once the facility is established, general public traffic would be deterred from using the private drives.

The board briefly addressed site access changes: applicants told members a left-turn lane is planned at one entrance and that truck entrances occur mostly during nighttime hours when traffic is lighter. Applicants said sign locations and wording could be adjusted once the lane work is completed to avoid conflicts with right-of-way traffic.

After discussion, a board member moved to approve the variance as read by staff. The motion was read aloud by Jason and the board voted in favor. The public hearing was opened and closed during the item; there were no public comments recorded on the variance in the transcript.

The approval covered directional/wayfinding signage sizes as shown on the applicant's plan for the property in the Columbia Election District and authorized the larger maximum sign areas specifically for the directional signs as described in the motion read into the record.

What the board approved is limited to the variance for directional signs; the applicants still must secure any required sign permits and coordinate any adjustments tied to the planned turning-lane work.

For transparency: the board's discussion included both technical questions about sign placement and traffic operations and a procedural note that the public hearing was opened after an initial procedural misstep and then closed before the vote.