Council denies appeal of sign variances for proposed fueling center at Third Creek and Middlebrook

Knoxville City Council on Thursday denied an appeal of Board of Zoning Appeals approvals that granted two sign variances for a proposed travel fueling center at 1415 Third Creek Road, leaving the variances in place. The vote to deny the appeal passed 5-4 after the mayor cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of denial.

The issue centered on two variances: reduction of the minimum required frontage on the street of address from 250 feet to 192.5 feet to allow a changeable-price electronic message sign, and an increase in maximum height for a detached pole sign from 10 feet to 20 feet. The appeal was filed on behalf of Scenic Knoxville.

The appeal hearing included testimony from opposing and supporting parties. Appellant Kevin Murphy argued that the council adopted the 250-foot minimum to prevent proliferation of intrusive electronic signs and that the applicant had created a “self-imposed hardship” by orienting the primary building toward Third Creek Road. Murphy also warned that “granting the variance would add to visual clutter which is contrary to the purpose of the sign…