Burlington seeks larger wall sign at Palms of Carrollwood; applicant cites visibility and travel speeds

Burlington’s representative presented July 28 to the Hillsborough County Land Use Hearing Officer for a variance to allow a 432-square-foot wall sign on the southern elevation of the Palms of Carrollwood shopping center, where the Land Development Code would permit about 144 square feet for the measured frontage. Caitlin Forbes, representing Burlington and Blair Signs, said the proposed sign responds to site constraints that limit motorists’ time to view tenant signage from Fletcher Avenue and to obstructed monument signs that reduce on-site wayfinding. Forbes told the hearing officer the former Bed Bath & Beyond bay will be reconfigured and Burlington will occupy roughly half that space; the company prefers a sign and a tagline that reflect its rebranding and uses lowercase letters, which increases measured sign area. Staff’s Michelle Montalbano summarized that, by the code’s measurement rules, the building frontage of about 115 feet would normally permit 143.75 square feet of aggregate wall signage; the applicant is requesting an additional 288.25 square feet to reach the 432-square-foot total. Forbes cited circulation and median patterns on Fletcher Avenue that create short view times — staff materials cited 3.5 seconds of exposure at 45 mph — and argued the proposed sign improves legibility for drivers and therefore supports safety and commercial viability. The applicant said it will install an interim code-compliant sign if the variance is not granted, but prefers the larger sign even on a temporary basis because it is more polished. No members of the public testified for or against the application at the hearing. Staff recorded no unresolved code deficiencies beyond the variance request. The hearing officer closed Variance 25-0912 for decision; she will issue a written ruling within 15 business days. The record includes graphics and a sign-area measurement justification submitted by the applicant and a staff analysis that the request must be judged against the five variance criteria in the Land Development Code.