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Redevelopment Agency awards $15,000 sign grant to Sun Valley Plaza despite concerns over nonconforming status
Summary
The Mesquite Redevelopment Agency approved a $15,000 grant to Sun Valley Plaza for repair of a freestanding, nonconforming sign. Board members debated whether city funds should support repairs to a sign that does not meet the current 25-foot height limit and discussed legal limits on per-project RDA grants.
The Mesquite Redevelopment Agency on March 25 approved a $15,000 redevelopment grant to Sun Valley Plaza (561 West Mesquite Boulevard) to help pay for repairs to a freestanding shopping-center sign.
Martine Green, Redevelopment Agency director, said the application was for reimbursement under the RDA sign program and that the program’s sign-specific limit is $15,000. "You have before you an application for, a grant for reimbursement for the redevelopment agency," Green said, and she confirmed the request is in the 50% reimbursement area of the city and subject to the $15,000 sign limit.
Jeff Hoyt, the shopping-center owner, told the board he submitted two bids for the sign work — $71,022.56 and $95,540 — and that the agency reimburses based on the lowest bid. Hoyt said he had spent substantial sums on the property since purchase and that repairing the existing freestanding sign is faster than coordinating separate tenant applications. "If this doesn't happen, I'm just gonna wait another till the program is reinstated and do it again," Hoyt said.
Board members raised zoning and equity questions. Simon (city staff) reminded the board that the current code limits sign height to 25 feet or the height of the building; several members noted the plaza sign is nonconforming (grandfathered). Board Member Wanless and Board Member Fielding argued that repairing the existing sign would improve downtown aesthetics and aid wayfinding. Board Member Parrish objected to classifying the request under "facade" funding and expressed concern about potential "double dipping" if tenants also applied separately for sign reimbursement. Parrish said he could support sign repair but not funding through a facade category.
Legal counsel and staff also discussed how the Attorney General's opinion applies to RDA grants. Mr. Bridal summarized the AG opinion provided by staff and said it treats assistance on a per-project basis rather than strictly per parcel: "So, the point here is that if it is a project, it doesn't matter how many parcels there are," he said, and concluded that the sign constitutes a single project for RDA grant purposes.
Board Member Fielding moved to award $15,000 to Sun Valley Plaza; the motion was seconded and passed. Board members did not attach additional conditions but recorded their differing views on whether city funds should support repairs to a longstanding nonconforming sign and on the appropriate program category for the request.
The owner said he could seek tenant applications to increase the total grant funds available to $35,000 but that he could not meet the project's timeframe by pursuing multiple separate applications and preferred the single-project reimbursement. The agency will reimburse based on the lowest acceptable bid and the program’s sign-specific cap.
No additional public comments were recorded on the item.
