Board of Adjustments okays retaining 28-foot-8-inch sign pole at 100 May Boulevard

The Danville Board of Adjustments voted unanimously to approve a variance allowing an existing sign pole at 100 May Boulevard to remain at 28 feet 8 inches, 4 feet 8 inches taller than the current 24-foot maximum for the Highway Business zone.

Board member Lonnie moved to approve retention and updating of the existing sign, saying the structure should remain in place and the face updated to reflect the new business. Lonnie stated, "I approve the I'm making a motion that we approve this, sign change and leave it exactly where it was. Just update it. No different from the size that is there now. We just update it to whatever it is gonna represent." The motion was seconded and carried with a unanimous vote.

Staff described the request as a variance to preserve and resurface an existing sign that had been deemed abandoned because the property was vacant more than a year. The staff report said the applicant sought to preserve the existing sign frame and update the sign face; the variance request was limited to restoring the prior size, not enlarging it. Staff noted the sign once advertised a KFC and that the existing frame is set back farther from the highway than typical. No members of the public spoke in favor or opposition during the public hearing.

During deliberations board members said the request did not constitute circumvention of the zoning ordinance or an enlargement of a nonconforming use; Lonnie asked that those points be reflected in the motion. The board did not attach additional conditions beyond requiring the sign face be updated to reflect the new business.

The board closed the public hearing after no speakers came forward and approved the variance. No further action on this item was announced.