The Davenport Zoning Board of Adjustment on Oct. 23 tabled a request from Quad City Custom Signs and Fair Oaks Foods for a second freestanding sign at 2951 Enterprise Way, citing questions about whether the sign should include directional language and staff findings that the application did not demonstrate the required hardship.

Community planning staff told the board the property, in the city's industrial park and zoned I-1 (light industrial), has separate east and west access points and that the two parking areas are not fully connected for regular circulation. Scott Cope, Community Services, said in his staff report that the Davenport municipal code allows only one freestanding sign per property (Davenport Municipal Code 17.12.060.D) and that, "The requested hardship variance based on the findings of the staff report does not support approval of the request." Cope said a permitted alternative would be a smaller directional sign at an entrance (about 4 square feet and 5 feet high) and that staff would be more likely to support a variance if the proposed sign included language directing traffic to the correct entrance.

The applicant's representatives told the board the concrete monument bases for two freestanding signs are already in place and that the sign panels were manufactured and ready for installation. A Quad City Custom Signs representative said the proposed sign faces measure about 192 inches wide and roughly 40' to 42 inches tall; Cope noted that equals roughly 16 feet by 3.5 feet. A site representative said the bases extend about 52 inches into the ground and estimated the base work had cost about $20,000.

Board members questioned whether adding explicit directional wording (for example, indicating a truck entrance or employee entrance) would address the safety and access concerns staff raised. Cope reiterated that directional signs sized and sited to code would be allowed even if a variance for a second freestanding sign were denied, and that increasing the sign face on an existing permitted monument sign could also be an option to improve wayfinding.

Vice Chair Bridget Boyd Carlson called for a motion after discussion. The board voted to table the request HB25-09 to the Nov. 13 meeting to give the applicant an opportunity to consult its client on whether to add directional information or revise the proposal. The roll call was recorded as Yes: Dan Darling; Yes: John Clefmann; Yes: Kristen Crawford; Yes: Bridget Boyd Carlson.

The board did not grant the variance at the meeting and did not adopt any decision on the merits; the item was continued to the Nov. 13 meeting. Staff said it would send an email clarifying the outcome to the applicant and parties of record.