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Hoschton City council approves variance for Kroger marketplace signs
Summary
The council approved Resolution 2025-04 granting Kroger a variance from the city's sign regulations for two marketplace signs after staff and developers discussed height and square-footage concerns.
Hoschton City Council approved Resolution 2025-04, granting a variance to the city's sign regulations for the proposed Kroger marketplace signs after hearing staff and developer comments.
City staff and a developer for the Kroger site discussed potential changes to the ordinance before the vote. Staff said the city's sign ordinance sets a maximum sign height of 24 feet; developers and staff discussed reducing that to about 10 to 12 feet, but the Kroger development team said that reduction was not workable and asked the council to approve their submitted proposal. Councilmember Dr. Sterling moved to approve the variance and the motion carried by voice/hand vote.
Supporters on the council pointed to examples of similar Kroger signs in other jurisdictions as models. Councilmember Dr. Schilling suggested councilmembers view a Lawrenceville Kroger off Sugarloaf Parkway to help visualize how the signs would appear. Staff noted the two principal signs (identified in the packet as P1 and P2) include Kroger branding and tenant panels, and both would display fuel prices where a fuel center is present.
The council and staff also discussed site topography: one sign may appear higher than the other because of a berm and landscaping on the site. City staff said Kroger indicated it would follow any future ordinance changes for new outparcels, but asked the council to approve the current variance for the existing site plan.
The council did not record a roll-call tally in the packet; the mayor called for hands in favor of approving the variance and the council approved the resolution.
The council did not adopt any new ordinance changes during this action; staff and councilmembers said they will pursue drafting potential ordinance amendments for future consideration.
