Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Signage Starbucks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Woodbury ZBA grants Starbucks variance for 5-foot siren sign, declares negative SEQRA finding
Summary
The ZBA approved a variance to allow an additional 5-foot (60-inch) round "siren" logo on a Starbucks drive-through facade in Central Valley, declared itself lead agency, classified the action as unlisted, and issued a negative SEQRA finding; board directed counsel to draft a decision consistent with those motions.
The Village of Woodbury Zoning Board of Appeals voted in February 2025 to grant an area variance allowing a 5-foot (60-inch) circular “siren” logo sign on the drive-through facade of a proposed Starbucks in Central Valley and issued a negative environmental finding under the state environmental review process.
The applicant’s representative told the board the drive-through fascia currently lacks the approved drive-through sign and that Starbucks seeks a 60-inch (5-foot) round logo on the drive-through side to improve visibility from the main road. The representative said the proposed sign is consistent with corporate signage at other nearby Starbucks locations.
Why it matters: the proposal increases the total number of wall signs on the building and required an area variance because the IB district limits wall-sign numbers and placement. The board’s determination affects signage precedent in the shopping development that already includes other approved commercial signs.
Board actions and conditioning: the ZBA declared itself lead agency and classified the project as an unlisted action. The board: (1) completed Parts 2 and 3 of the environmental assessment and issued a negative declaration, finding no moderate-to-large environmental impacts; (2) found the requested variance to be the minimum necessary and not to produce an undesirable change in neighborhood character; and (3) directed counsel to draft a decision consistent with the board’s discussion. The board noted that three of the signs on the building were previously approved by the Architectural Review Board/planning board and that the variance under review applies only to the additional siren logo above the drive-through window.
Size and calculations: the applicant described the round logo as 60 inches in diameter (about 25 square feet). During discussion the board also referenced an applicant statement describing the additional signage as “36 square feet of additional or more signage,” a figure the board characterized as minimal in relation to a facade the board estimated at roughly 350 square feet. The board concluded signage would not exceed the wall-percentage limits under the code as presented.
Votes and procedure: board members voted to adopt the SEQRA negative declaration and to request counsel to prepare a written decision reflecting the approvals and conditions; individual roll-call votes were recorded as “Aye” in open session but the transcript does not list each member’s full roll call for these motions. The board also noted outstanding paperwork: an Orange County Planning Department comment is pending but likely to recommend a local determination.
Conditions and next steps: the ZBA’s approval is limited to the additional sign requested and does not approve any other plan elements. Counsel will draft the formal decision; the applicant must obtain any outstanding planning-board, Architectural Review Board and building permits before sign installation.
Board members encouraged consistency with ARB-approved lighting and materials; the applicant said internal LED lighting will match the front sign.
