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Homewood issues committee drops sign-variance request for Soho storefront
Summary
The Homewood City Issues Committee voted 5-0 to drop a request for a sign variance at a Soho Square storefront after discussion about off-premise signage, window-coverage limits and property ownership. The committee also removed an agenda item asking to hold the Dance Foundation’s 50th anniversary on City Hall Plaza and approved Dec. 9 minutes.
The Homewood City Issues Committee on Jan. 6 voted 5-0 to drop a request for a sign variance for a storefront in Soho Square after questions about whether the proposed graphics would violate the city’s sign rules and whether the applicant had property control over the windows.
The request concerned 83128th Avenue South, Suite 155, where Soho Partners owner Mitch Hughes sought permission to cover three storefront windows with graphics that Mr. Cohen, presenting on behalf of the city, said would amount to 100% coverage. “As y’all well know, the ordinance allows only 20% coverage on a window,” Mr. Cohen said during the committee discussion, noting the current sign code’s window-coverage limit.
The applicant said the windows back onto a storage area used by surrounding restaurants, not the hydration business that will occupy the adjacent suite. “I bought that before we ever opened and before I realized there was a sign order in it,” Mitch Hughes said, explaining he purchased the graphics during build-out and wanted to use them to “dress up” a storage-facing window.
Committee members questioned whether the proposed graphics would be an off-premise sign because the storage area is not part of Hughes’s leased space. Councilor Guelphine asked whether the business actually occupied the space behind the windows; Hughes replied that his business will be in the next suite and that the storage area belongs to other tenants. Committee members also debated whether existing larger signs in Soho Square are grandfathered under earlier rules, with one member saying the recent zoning and sign ordinance changes were intended to eliminate grandfathering for new nonconforming signs.
After discussion, Councilor Aleman moved to drop the variance request; Councilor Gere seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion 5-0. The committee’s notes record that the applicant will pursue other options and that the city’s sign ordinance limits window coverage to 20%, while the applicant requested full coverage for three windows.
Votes at a glance - Motion to dispense reading and approve minutes from Dec. 9, 2024 — outcome: approved, 5-0 (vote recorded as five ayes). Motion details not specified in the transcript. - Old-business item: request for the Dance Foundation and Homewood Arts Council to hold a 50th-anniversary celebration on City Hall Plaza (Aug. 2025) — outcome: item dropped, 5-0. Committee reported a city events fee of $4,000 (after a 20% reduction) that the organizers said they could not pay and said they would seek park alternatives. - Sign variance request for 83128th Avenue South, Suite 155 (Soho Partners/Mitch Hughes) — outcome: dropped, 5-0. Motion by Councilor Aleman; second by Councilor Gere.
Committee members said enforcement follow-up is necessary to reconcile older signs in Soho Square with the current sign ordinance. The committee did not set a public hearing for the variance before dropping the item.
The committee adjourned after the items on the agenda were addressed.
