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Rutherford County grants variance for larger sign at Sri Swaminarayan Temple on Sheffield Highway
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Summary
Rutherford County approved a variance allowing an 85-square-foot text area on a monument sign for the Sri Swaminarayan Temple, exceeding the RM-zone 40-square-foot lettering limit; the board cited the site's location on a high-speed arterial and the temple's architectural scale in granting the 45-square-foot variance.
Rutherford County board members approved a variance to allow a larger monument sign at the Sri Swaminarayan Temple, finding conditions at the site and the sign’s visibility on a high-speed arterial supported the request.
Planning staff presented Application 20 25 23 for a 15-acre parcel in the RM zone developed as a community assembly. Staff said the existing monument-style sign measures 8 by 14 feet overall (112 square feet) and that the text area measures about 7 by 12 feet (approximately 85 square feet). The county sign code for properties in the RM zone limits sign text area to 40 square feet; the applicant sought variance relief to allow an additional 45 square feet.
Staff told the board that the sign was erected near the end of construction without a separate sign permit and that the site’s conditional-use approval and site plan review had not included a finalized sign permit. Staff said the request met most but not all conditions for variance relief and noted the site does not exhibit topographic or special conditions that would make compliance impossible. The presentation said staff considered the temple’s long official name, its architectural scale and the parcel’s frontage on a four-lane divided highway with high speeds as factors that justified relief.
Ronak Patel, representing the Sri Swaminarayan Temple, told the board the sign helps drivers identify the facility from a high-speed road and said removing less-critical elements such as the address would still leave the sign above the 40-square-foot limit. Patel said the temple had a large grand-opening celebration that drew bands and visitors but told the board such events are not routine.
A board member noted recent, noticeable noise during the temple’s opening events; Patel said organizers had notified the mayor and county emergency services in advance and described the event as an occasional celebration rather than a recurring activity.
Planning staff said no phone calls were received in opposition to the request. A board member who reviewed sightlines and traffic concerns said, given Sheffield Highway’s width and traffic speeds, the sign’s size is understandable; the board approved the variance by roll call: Mike Curtis, Amber Brown, Jerry Sartain, Gary Farley, Patrick Hale and Zane (Dane in roll call) Cantrell voted yes (6-0).
Clarifying details: the parcel is about 15 acres; the sign overall is about 8 by 14 feet (112 sq ft), the text area about 7 by 12 feet (85 sq ft); the RM-zone sign text-area limit is 40 sq ft; staff used the overall text-area dimensions in the absence of a scaled drawing; staff received no public calls opposing the variance.
The board did not attach additional conditions to the variance beyond approving the existing sign as presented.
