The Michigan City Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Jan. 14 to allow Saint John Church to convert its existing monument sign at 101 Saint John Road into an electronic message center (EMC), granting two development standards variances requested by the petitioner.

The Planning Department reported the property is zoned R-1C, a single-family residential district, and that EMCs are permitted only in nonresidential districts under Table 19.04 and Section 19.06 of the city’s zoning ordinance. Doctor Sylvia Martin, assistant director of the Planning Department, recommended approval with conditions including a maximum sign height of 6 feet, a maximum copy area of 72 square feet per side, a brick base with landscaping, and compliance with illumination and change-rate provisions in Section 19.06.

Patrick Shai of Venapco Signs and Pastor Bill Fine represented the church. “We’re just trying to convert their sign in to have an electronic message center,” Shai said at the meeting. Planning staff told the board the proposed EMC fits within the existing sign’s physical dimensions: the structure is about 6 feet tall and the EMC component is slightly under the 72-square-foot-per-side limit. Doctor Martin noted nearby signs (Wendy’s, Ivy Tech) predate the current ordinance and are within 600 feet, which is why a variance is required.

During public comment, Kent Lang, who said he changes the church sign monthly, described the existing sign as deteriorating and said the electronic conversion would be “beneficial” and ease maintenance; he added, “I am approaching 79 years old and changing that sign ... is worrisome sometimes.” Resident Scott Mellon, who said he lives in the area, urged denial based on the ordinance’s intent: “If we give everybody a variance, what’s the point of having the laws that we have?”

Board member Brian Gross moved to approve petition B-104-24 adopting the Planning Department’s conditions; Deborah Vance seconded. The motion passed 5-0, with Chairman Ricky Jackson, Mr. Clinder, Kathy Stransky, Deborah Vance and Brian Gross voting yes. The approval includes the conditions read into the record by Planning staff and requires the petitioner to meet the illumination, landscaping and construction specifications in the ordinance.

The approval does not change the sign’s alignment or overall height beyond existing parameters and attaches the Planning Department’s conditions to the variance. The board record includes the petitioner’s submittals, Planning Department report and the attorney’s procedural review confirming notice requirements had been met.

The church may proceed under the conditions imposed; any future construction that exceeds the approved dimensions or fails to meet the illumination standards would be a violation of the variance approval.