Council approves variance for Northside repair shop, defers Franklin Chevrolet sign variance to planning commission

The mayor and council approved a variance to allow an existing vehicle repair shop and U‑Haul rental site at 1321 Northside Drive East to continue operating despite a lapse in its business license that removed its prior nonconforming status under the new Unified Development Code. Planning staff said the property historically qualified under the old CR district but became nonconforming under the MX (mixed‑use) zoning when the UDC was adopted. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions; the planning commission recommended approval 6–0 and the council approved the staff conditions.

Separately, Franklin Chevrolet sought a variance to place a 520.5 square‑foot building sign on a collision center along Veterans Memorial Parkway. Planning staff and the planning commission recommended denial because the proposed sign exceeded the wall‑sign maximum by roughly 370 square feet. The applicant’s sign vendor said corrected drawings submitted in late December reduced the requested area to about 439.22 square feet — roughly 25% above the UDC allowance — and argued the larger letters and halo backlighting are necessary for visibility along the bypass. Council members expressed concern about maintaining signage standards; one councilmember proposed deferring the sign petition so the planning commission could consider the corrected drawings and return a recommendation to council. The council voted to defer the sign variance back to planning for reconsideration with corrected materials.

Staff told the council the vehicle repair shop remains operating while the variance is processed and that staff will propose a UDC amendment to allow auto repair shops in the MX district to prevent similar lapses. The Franklin sign petitioner said the site is set back about 200 feet from the bypass and that the building is substantially larger than nearby parcels, which influenced their signage needs.