Sylvania board approves three commercial sign permit applications

SYLVANIA, Ohio — The Sylvania Board of Architectural Review approved three regulated sign applications during its June 11 meeting, clearing replacement and new signage for a collision center, a coffee shop and a rebranded church.

The board voted to approve application 16-2025, which will reface and convert an existing pole sign for White Collision into a lower monument sign; application 17-2025, to allow lit channel letters and window decals for Casual Grounds coffee; and application 18-2025, to permit nonilluminated storefront lettering and refacing of two monument signs for Church 3 21.

The approvals matter to business owners along the city’s commercial strips because they permit new or refreshed signage that city staff said meets local sign requirements. Tim Burns, the city’s zoning administrator, told the board the applications complied with the sign code and that no zoning corrections were required for Casual Grounds’ request.

Brian Heil of Toledo Sign Company, representing White Collision, said the shop’s existing sign faces were yellowing and the vinyl was cracking. He described the plan as “just reface the sign, make an aluminum skirting, and . . . use the existing pole and just lower the whole sign and turn it into a monument sign as shown in my rendering.” Board members clarified that the existing pole would remain and would be concealed by the new skirting; Heil confirmed, “That is correct.”

Travis Truesdell of True Bridal Signs described the Casual Grounds application as “lit channel letters on a 3 millimeter aluminum panel attached to a raceway, anchored into the building with lags.” He said a temporary permit had been issued so the cafe’s sign could go up ahead of the board meeting; Burns confirmed the temporary permit had been issued and that the permanent application met sign-code requirements.

Carrie Brack, representing Church 3 21, outlined the church’s rebranding and the request for nonilluminated acrylic painted lettering stud-mounted to the building, door decals to identify entrances and refacing of two monument signs.

Each application was moved and approved by voice vote; the record in the meeting transcript does not list individual roll-call votes. The board’s approvals were routine and accompanied by few questions from commissioners.

The approvals do not, according to the transcript, change other zoning conditions for the properties. Burns noted the applications were handled under the city’s sign code and mentioned a separate policy change related to a pole-sign grandfathering clause under consideration at council, but no change to that clause was made during this meeting.

Applicants may proceed with permits and installation consistent with the approved plans and any permit conditions enforced by the zoning department.