The Southfield Zoning Board of Appeals on Jan. 7 approved a sign-area variance permitting a 210.5-square-foot wall sign at 21321 Telegraph Road, where the I-1 industrial district limit is 100 square feet.

Applicant representatives said the building is a newly constructed three-story mixed-use structure of approximately 132,000 square feet with roughly 220 feet of frontage on Telegraph Road and is set back several hundred feet from the road. Richie Atto, representing the developer, said much of the building will be storage and that the larger sign is needed to identify the storage operation because of the building’s length and setback. Donna Hokey of Inner City Neon presented on behalf of the sign contractor.

City staff recommended approval, finding extraordinary or exceptional property conditions that could cause practical difficulties under a strict application of the sign regulations and concluding the requested relief would not be detrimental to the public good or traffic safety. During board discussion, Zoning Board member Lippitt asked how many residential units are planned; the applicant said there is one unit intended for overnight security.

Zoning Board member Friedman moved to approve the variance; the motion passed by voice vote with the standard condition that the appellant secure all required permits and inspections and receive final building-department approval.