Planning and Zoning Commission approves monument sign at 110 E. 92 Hwy with utility-easement condition

Kearney Planning and Zoning Commission members on Jan. 13 approved a minor site plan to allow a new monument sign with changeable copy at 110 East 92 Highway, the property owned by Free Bridal 2 LLC.

Planning staff told the commission the proposed sign would be about 7 feet tall, no greater than 50 square feet, and would sit at least 5 feet from the property line at the southwest corner of the parcel. Staff said the applicant signed an acknowledgement that any changeable copy must be static or change imagery at no faster than two-second intervals and that a sign permit must be submitted before installation. "They did sign an acknowledgment of those code items," planning staff member David said during the presentation.

Commissioners raised concerns about nearby overhead electric lines and whether any underground utilities or recorded utility easements would conflict with the sign location. A commissioner moved to approve the minor site plan with an added condition that the sign shall not be located in any existing utility easements. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

The commission's action requires the applicant to submit a formal sign-permit application and to comply with the city's sign-copy timing requirement. Staff also noted the applicant must contact utility-locating services (call Dig Right) before installation so any buried utilities are located and the sign can be placed or adjusted accordingly.

No members of the public spoke on the item. The commission did not create any additional conditions beyond permitting, the copy-interval limit and the utility-easement restriction.

The approval applies only to the minor site-plan application as presented; permits and inspections required by the city's sign-permit process remain outstanding.