Homewood zoning board approves two sign variances for 195 Oxmoor Road with 67-square-foot condition

The Homewood Board of Zoning Adjustment on March 2025 approved two variances allowing larger illuminated wall signs for restaurants at 195 Oxmoor Road, conditioned on alleyway/side signage not exceeding 67 square feet.

The board approved two cases — SVD-25-03-01 (El Barrio, Suite 113) and SVD-25-03-02 (Paramount, Suite 101) — each on votes recorded as five in favor, none opposed. The approvals covered parts A, B and C as listed on the agenda and included a proffer that alley/side signage be limited to the 67-square-foot size shown in the applicants’ presentation.

Why it matters: The variances allow tenant signage larger than what members said the ordinance’s small default measurements would permit, and the decisions affect wayfinding and business visibility along Oxmoor Road in the West Homewood District.

Don Hawes, a sign contractor with Signage Sign Company and the applicant for the El Barrio sign, told the board the restaurant was requesting a wall-mounted sign measuring 48 inches high by 61.25 inches wide—about 20 square feet—after a review with city staff. "So we are asking for... 20 square feet," Hawes said during the presentation. Property owner Tom Walker, who identified his address as 1402 Roseland Drive, said smaller signage allowed by the ordinance would be too small for the scale of the building and could prevent tenants from installing effective wayfinding. "If we’re required to put up the 6 square foot sign, you know, we probably won't put up a sign. You know, it's just too small. It doesn't make sense for us," Walker said.

Jeff Locker, identified in the hearing as one of the owners of El Barrio and Paramount, told the board the requested signs were intended to help people find the businesses and build the tenants’ brand without being gaudy. "Very small sign within the ordinance just doesn't really pop... we're not trying to make it loud and boisterous," Locker said.

Staff and applicants discussed several technical points during the hearing: the sign area listed in the ordinance versus measurement methods, internal versus perimeter LED illumination (applicants described a 3,000 Kelvin warm-white LED as the lighting), and the design distinction between channel letters and other sign types. City staff told the board the building also has allowance for larger painted or alley-passage signs on the façades; applicants agreed to proffer smaller alley/side signs in exchange for the wall-mounted variances presented to staff.

Votes at a glance - SVD-25-03-01 (195 Oxmoor Road, Suite 113 — El Barrio) — Parts A, B, C: Approved. Proffer: alley/side signage not to exceed 67 square feet. Vote: Mr. Armstead: yes; Miss Hand: yes; Mr. Johnson: yes; Mr. Nieves: yes; Miss Childs: yes. - SVD-25-03-02 (195 Oxmoor Road, Suite 101 — Paramount) — Parts A, B, C: Approved. Proffer: alley/side signage not to exceed 67 square feet. Vote: Mr. Armstead: yes; Miss Hand: yes; Mr. Johnson: yes; Mr. Nieves: yes; Miss Childs: yes.

Procedure and next steps: The board's packet and motion language reference Article 4, District Uses, Section FF (West Homewood District), Subsection 13 (Sign Standards). Applicants were told to contact city staff (Emily Harris Miller) to complete permitting and follow-up steps. Approved variances will be subject to any permit conditions identified by city staff.

Context: Board members noted the building's height and the presence of larger signs across Oxmoor Road during the presentation. Board members also confirmed the board's procedural thresholds — variances require a positive vote of at least four members — before voting. The meeting record shows the board moved and seconded each case and recorded unanimous approvals for both requests.

Less-critical details: During discussion the applicants and staff exchanged technical questions about LED brightness (lumens) versus color temperature (Kelvin), whether logos or typography-only signs were considered, and the limits on window vinyl and hours-of-operation signage. Applicants said they plan to use black-and-white vinyl with white LED tubing and that storefront hours may still be displayed in window vinyl within ordinance limits.

The board concluded the special called meeting after approving the two sign variances and reminded applicants to coordinate with planning staff on permits and installation.