Design Review Board approves changeable LED panel for Harrington Vision Center with 12-month condition on secondary sign

The Florence City Design Review Board approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing a 12-square-foot changeable-copy LED panel to replace the central display on a monument sign at Harrington Vision Center, 181 West Chavez Street, with the condition that the applicant return within 12 months with a proposal to address a separate, nonconforming sign on Irby Street.

City staff described the request as “a certificate of appropriateness to install a changeable copy LED panel to an existing monument sign at Harrington Vision Center,” noting the site sits in the D2 Downtown Central Business Overlay District adjacent to the H1 Downtown Historic District and that the proposed panel would replace the existing middle panel on the long-standing monument sign.

Ben Harrington, the applicant and owner of Harrington Vision Center, told the board he wants to “update it … to make that corner more attractive” and said he plans broader improvements to the property. Board members discussed possible impacts on residents and drivers, and whether the approval would set a precedent for similar signs downtown.

Board members noted that the city recently passed first reading on new design standards that would prohibit changeable-copy and internally illuminated signs in overlay districts once the code is adopted by council. Staff and board members nevertheless said the proposed panel would likely be less distracting than some other electronic signs and that existing signs already in place would not be affected by the new standards.

Several board members raised the Emerson Apartments’ proximity to the site and suggested conditions to limit nighttime impacts, including requiring timers or dimming consistent with the Unified Development Ordinance standards for signs adjacent to residential uses. Staff said state/DOT standards control how quickly a changeable display may cycle and that typical practice is for a static display to remain for several seconds and for transitions to occur quickly to avoid animation.

Board member Bryce moved to approve the request “as submitted with the stipulation that he bring back another proposal for the second sign within 12 months,” adding language tying operation to UDO nighttime/illumination restrictions; the motion was seconded and the board voted in favor. A board member said “Aye. Motion carries,” and staff indicated the sign permit could be issued.

The approval applies to the requested modification of the existing monument sign only; the condition requires the applicant to return with a proposal to bring the secondary Irby Street sign into compliance or show coordinated improvements to the property within 12 months. Staff also said the recently advanced city design standards, once adopted, would prohibit this type of changeable-copy sign in overlay districts going forward.

The board closed the public hearing and adjourned; its next scheduled meeting is April 9.