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Pharr planning commission tables request to double pylon sign height at Interstate 2 property
Summary
The Pharr Planning and Zoning Commission tabled an application from business owner Sam Liu seeking a variance to replace a 30-foot freestanding pylon sign with a 60-foot sign at 1943 Interstate 2 West. The board requested written clearance from the power-line company and coordination with city staff before resuming consideration.
The Pharr Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 18 tabled a request from applicant and property owner Sam Liu to replace an existing 30-foot freestanding business pylon sign with a new 60-foot sign at 1943 Interstate 2 West in Pharr, Texas. The board said action will be delayed until Liu obtains a written clearance from the local power-line company and coordinates with city staff on alternate locations and utility easements.
Joe Garza, assistant director of development services, presented the item and described the property as Lot 2, Replat of Farr Commercial Park Phase 2 subdivision, with the parcel and surrounding parcels zoned General Business (C) and designated for general business in the land-use plan. Garza said the applicant requested the height variance to increase visibility for the restaurant business. Garza said the city mailed seven notices within a 200-foot radius on Aug. 29, 2025, and published legal notices on Aug. 27, Sept. 3 and Sept. 10, 2025; staff reported no responses to those mailings or notices.
Garza summarized the applicable local sign standards cited during the meeting: the Pharr sign ordinance limits freestanding business signs in the non-expressway business district to a maximum height of 30 feet, a maximum sign area of up to 300 square feet, and minimum setbacks of 5 feet from the property line (ordinance citation as presented at the meeting). Garza also noted that Pharr holds a Scenic City designation and that the Scenic City Certification Program provides a framework for municipal roadway and open-space appearance standards.
Applicant Sam Liu told the commission he bought the building formerly occupied by Fazoli’s and is seeking the taller sign to improve visibility among nearby fast-casual restaurants and other high-profile businesses along the corridor. Liu said he is willing to relocate the sign on the site if necessary and to explore rotating its orientation to avoid conflicts with existing power lines.
Commission members raised safety and utility concerns, noting the proposed 60-foot sign could interfere with overhead power lines or other utilities. Commissioners suggested two paths: (1) keep the sign in its proposed location but require the applicant to obtain authorization in writing from the power-line company, or (2) relocate the sign elsewhere on the property, which would likely require a new application and restart of the review process and additional utility checks. Commissioners also advised Liu to consult a survey and an engineer to identify easements and underground utilities before moving forward.
The commission voted to table the variance request and asked Liu to return with written clearance from the power-line company and to meet with city staff to evaluate alternate locations and utility constraints. The motion to table carried by voice vote.
