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Southfield ZBA approves side‑facing wall sign for Buell's Superior Fence with permit condition
Summary
The Southfield Zoning Board of Appeals granted a waiver allowing a 30‑square‑foot wall sign on the east side of Buell's Superior Fence at 26650 W. Eight Mile Road, subject to required building permits and inspections.
The Southfield Zoning Board of Appeals on April 15 approved a waiver allowing Buell's Superior Fence to place a second wall sign on a side façade at 26650 West Eight Mile Road.
The board granted the variance to Chapter 99, Article 12, Section 8.611(b) — the city's sign ordinance — after hearing from the appellant's representative, Chris Corrati of AverSign Company, and a staff recommendation for favorable consideration. City staff conditioned the approval on the appellant securing all required permits and inspections from the City of Southfield building department.
Corrati told the board the sign would be mounted on the side of the existing building rather than on a new pole or ground‑mounted foundation. "We are requesting that a second sign be allowed to be added to the building facade on the side of the building," Corrati said, adding the side sign would help drivers on Eight Mile Road see the building and access the parking lot before passing it. He described the proposed sign as modest and not facing residential property: "It's not a large sign and it's not overly obtrusive. It's not facing any residences."
City staff read findings of fact noting the property is zoned I‑1 Industrial, the building footprint is approximately 7,476 square feet, tenant frontage on the major thoroughfare is about 87 linear feet, the east side of the building is roughly 84 linear feet, and the proposed wall sign would be approximately 30 square feet. Staff recommended approval on the basis that strict application of the ordinance would create practical difficulties for the owner and that the sign would not create traffic‑safety objections or substantially impair the intent of the sign chapter.
Board members expressed no objections during deliberations. Mr. Friedman moved to grant the waiver with the building‑department permit condition; the motion was seconded and carried with aye votes and no recorded opposition.
The board's action allows Buell's Superior Fence to install the side‑facing wall sign, subject to final building department approval and required permits. No public comment was offered on the case during the hearing.
