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BZA lets Walmart install updated signage at 2709 Church Street, grants extra wall signs and pickup banner
Summary
Conway BZA approved variances March 27 allowing Walmart at 2709 Church Street additional wall signs beyond current UDO limits and a pickup banner attached to a light pole, with staff and applicant saying new signage reduces overall square footage.
The Conway Board of Zoning Appeals on March 27 granted variances permitting Walmart at 2709 Church Street to replace existing exterior signage and to install additional wall signage and a pickup banner attached to a light pole.
Staff told the board the parcel has housed a Walmart since 1998 and that the current building signage totals about 640 square feet; the applicant’s proposed signage totals about 399 square feet, a reduction in overall square footage. The applicant asked for more individual wall signs than the UDO allows and for a 2‑by‑5 foot pickup banner attached to a light pole; the UDO prohibits pole signs.
A representative identified in the record as Equidenza with Mass Multimedia Architects for Walmart said the project “is just updating everything” and that the ordinance now prevents the prior signs from being automatically grandfathered. “Now that there’s the ordinance, they’re not grandfathered in. So we’re just come in to just change out the signs,” the representative said. The representative also clarified the number of signs during the hearing, noting internal address and tenant signage considerations.
Board members discussed the size of the building and whether larger properties justify additional signage for tenant wayfinding. One member observed that the proposed replacement would “make it look better.” A motion to approve the variance as requested was seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally.
The variances requested included: an exception under UDO article 11 to allow more than two wall signs for the store, and a variance to allow the 2‑by‑5 foot pickup banner attached to a light pole despite section 11.2.2 prohibiting pole signs. Staff materials and the applicant said the project will reduce total signage square footage while increasing the number of individual wall signs to serve different store functions (pharmacy, auto care, grocery, etc.).
