Homewood BZA approves larger illuminated signs for two restaurants at 195 Oxmoor Road

The Homewood Board of Zoning Adjustment on a special-called March 2025 meeting approved variances for two illuminated wall signs at 195 Oxmoor Road, allowing El Barrio (Suite 113) and Paramount (Suite 101) larger signage than the staff notice indicated, and imposing a proffer that alleyway signage not exceed 67 square feet.

The approvals matter because the building has limited options for storefront identification: board and applicants said ground signage is not allowed at the site, leaving wall signs as the only practical way to identify the new restaurants for passing motorists and customers.

Don Hawes, representing the applicant from Signage Sign Company, told the board the El Barrio sign application asked for a sign 48 inches high by 61.25 inches wide — roughly 20 square feet — and flagged a discrepancy between the ordinance dimensions and the public notice. “So we are asking for the El Barrio sign ... which is 20 square feet,” Hawes said. Tom Walker, the project owner, said a 6-square-foot sign…