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Helotes approves two sign variances as council sides with businesses over Planning & Zoning split recommendation
Summary
The city approved a wall sign for Saving a Hero’s Place and a roof-mounted sign variance for GunCheck after council overruled or departed from Planning & Zoning recommendations in one case.
The Helotes City Council on Jan. 23 approved two sign requests: a wall sign for Saving a Hero’s Place at 15241 Bandera Road, suite 2, and a roof-mounted sign variance for GunCheck, a business on FM 16 (Old Town Helotes). The wall sign (item 10) had unanimous approval from the council and the planning and zoning commission; the roof-mounted sign (item 11) was approved by council despite a 3–1 Planning & Zoning recommendation to disapprove.
Lee Wright, representing GunCheck, spoke during citizen comments and noted the business’s sign request was similar to other recently approved signs in Old Town. Council members and staff described the site as being on a slope that makes the existing small sign nearly invisible to drivers; several council members said they favored the roof-mounted sign to improve visibility for a small business. Council members acknowledged the planning commission split and discussed different methods for calculating sign area; one council member said square-footage calculations vary by method and local discretion applies when considering variances.
Planning & Zoning member Buck Russell was cited during discussion as expressing safety concerns about a monument sign at that location. Council members ultimately said they wanted to support local businesses and approved the GunCheck roof-mounted sign variance by voice vote. The Wall sign for Saving a Hero’s Place (item 10) was also approved without opposition.
