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Board approves 32-square-foot digital sign for Upper Lancaster Volunteer Rescue Squad
Summary
The Lancaster County Board of Zoning Appeals granted a variance allowing a 32-square-foot, LED-backlit digital monument sign with colored lamps for the Upper Lancaster Volunteer Rescue Squad after a public hearing and no public opposition.
The Lancaster County Board of Zoning Appeals on an unspecified date approved a variance allowing the Upper Lancaster Volunteer Rescue Squad to replace a roadside message board with a 32-square-foot digital monument-style sign with LED backlighting and colored lamps.
Board members approved the variance after county planning staff described the request as an exception to sign rules in the Lancaster County Land Development Code, which limits signs in the highway corridor overlay district to a maximum of 20 square feet, external illumination only, and prohibits colored lamps. The squad’s request covers property identified as tax map 14-4-29 on Maryvale Road in the village of Lively.
The request, presented by county staff (Miss Pruitt), said the proposed sign would be larger and use a digital screen, LED backlighting and colored lamps. Staff noted the rescue squad obtained Virginia Department of Transportation approval for the sign’s location and said an adjacent neighbor to the south, listed on tax map 14-99 as owned by Dixon Foster, granted approval for placement. Staff also said the volunteer fire department roughly a half-mile south had received a similar 32-square-foot digital sign variance from the board on Jan. 12, 2009.
Judy Hamill, president of the Upper Lancaster Volunteer Rescue Squad, told the board the group has been “in the process of trying to get this signed” and said she had not realized the legal steps involved. “I think it'll benefit us so that, hopefully, we can get some volunteers to come in and to help assist the county and us,” Hamill said, adding the new sign would be easier to maintain and more visible than the current message board.
Board members asked about animated or flashing features and confirmed the proposed sign would not have running animations or blinking lights; staff noted county code limits message change intervals (staff referenced a 30-second county code limit). No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing, and no written public comments had been filed with the county planning memo before the meeting date; staff said adjoining property owners were notified as required by law.
After closing the public hearing the board moved to approve the variance as requested; the motion passed and the board recorded the approval.
The rescue squad may proceed with installation subject to any building or electrical permits required by county or state authorities.
