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ZBA grants special permits for existing signs at 250 Turnpike Road; applicant said signs installed after verbal approvals
Summary
The Zoning Board approved special permits for a wall sign and a standing sign already installed at 250 Turnpike Road, noting the signs were in place after what the applicant said were verbal approvals from a former building official; the board approved the permits as drafted.
The Southborough Zoning Board of Appeals approved special permits on May 21 for a wall sign and a standing sign at 250 Turnpike Road, where the signs already have been fabricated and installed.
Attorney George Bonon, representing FD 250 Turnpike LLC, told the board that a former building official had given verbal approval for the signs and that the applicant proceeded to fabricate and install them before a formal special-permit application was filed. "They were, I believe, verbally approved by a former building commissioner," Bonon said.
Planning Board feedback had been mixed on some criteria for the standing sign (area too large) while the wall sign generally received favorable votes from planning reviewers on material, color and location. The Planning Board and a peer reviewer concluded location and illumination did not present a safety hazard.
Board members who reviewed the installed signs described the situation as one where "the milk's out of the cow," arguing it would be inequitable to penalize a business that relied on earlier verbal approvals. The board also noted comparable signage across Route 9 and that the applicant had set timers so the sign illumination runs from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
After discussion the board moved to approve the application as drafted; the motion passed by voice vote, with all voting members recorded in favor. The ZBA staff will prepare the written decision for filing by June 4.
