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Council OKs variances for TriHealth monument sign at Medical Arts property
Summary
Wilmington City Council approved variances allowing TriHealth to replace an existing monument sign at the Medical Arts properties on West Locust Street with a new, 72.5-square-foot sign, after staff recommended approval and no speakers opposed the request.
Wilmington City Council approved variances to city sign rules to allow TriHealth to install a new monument sign at the Medical Arts properties on West Locust Street.
Staff told the council the applicant sought three variances from the Wilmington Code of Ordinances — to allow more than one ground sign per street frontage, to exceed the six-foot height limit, and to exceed the 32-square-foot maximum sign area — and recommended approval after finding the proposal met local review factors. "Given the findings from the application and without testimony and evidence that would establish a finding to the board that all criteria for variance is not met staff of the commission recommends approval of variance request numbers 1 through 3 due to satisfying the review criteria and review factors," a staff member said.
Rob Steiner of Hi Tech Signs, the contractor representing the applicant, said the proposed monument would replace an existing, larger sign and follow TriHealth’s standard design. "The proposal concerns the installation of the 72.5 square foot monument sign for TriHealth healthcare services at the northwest corner of this location replacing the existing sign," Steiner said, adding that the new sign is "actually a little bit smaller" than the current 174-square-foot sign and will be higher-quality than the existing structure.
Steiner also said TriHealth prioritized local visibility. "TriHealth ... is here to serve the community, and signage entrance to TriHealth, location, they can see a clear and concise TriHealth sign right at the entrance to that driveway," he said. City staff noted the replacement does not introduce significant alterations to the site and that, because the new sign is smaller than the existing one, it does not substantially change neighborhood character.
No members of the public spoke in opposition. Council members moved and seconded approval of the three variance requests together; the motion carried and the board approved the variances. The council also noted temporary faces had been placed on the current sign before the new sign was installed and discussed that the entire old structure will be removed and replaced with a new fabricated aluminum cap.
Votes at a glance: The council approved variance request numbers 1–3 for the TriHealth monument sign (proposal: 72.5 sq. ft.; existing sign ~174 sq. ft.; requests: allow more than one ground sign per frontage, exceed 6-foot height limit, exceed 32-square-foot area) — outcome: approved.
The council’s action clears the sign permit path; staff will proceed with permitting and final plan checks according to the city’s code and standard permitting process.
