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Huron commission waives downtown sign permit fees for Huron Rising 2; 3-2 vote
Summary
The Huron City Commission voted 3-2 to waive permit fees for projecting downtown signs tied to the Huron Rising 2 downtown reopening project, an estimated fee waiver of about $1,540. Commissioners stressed the need to avoid precedent and to work through signage-size restrictions and possible variances.
The Huron City Commission voted 3-2 on a motion to waive sign permit fees for projecting downtown signs being installed for the Huron Rising 2 downtown reopening campaign, a waiver the city staff estimated at roughly $1,540.
Barry Cranston, city staff, told the commission the volunteer-driven project aims to install uniform projecting signs and refreshed paint in time for the July 3 downtown reopening. Cranston said the signs were initially expected to be wall-mounted but were later described as projecting (perpendicular to the building face), roughly 2 to 2.5 feet out from the façade, which would categorize them as double-faced signs for permitting purposes.
The commission heard details on the permit cost and project financing: city staff said a double-faced sign permit is typically $70 per sign; Cranston said there are approximately 22 signs, which yields about $1,540 in foregone permit fees if waived. Commissioners also noted a quoted cost of about $180 per business from Creative Printing for sign fabrication and that the Greater Huron Development Corporation, Huron Community Foundation and volunteers had contributed to paint and material costs.
Commissioners raised two recurring concerns during debate: (1) precedent — whether waiving fees for this project would obligate the city to waive fees for other areas (including South Huron) in the future; and (2) regulatory limits — several commissioners emphasized that some properties may exceed their allotted aggregate signage square footage and would need variances, a separate process from fee waivers. Cranston and other staff said the city would work with property owners to replace larger existing signs with the new projecting signs where possible and noted Heather Burns and staff would follow up on addresses that require special review.
A commissioner asked whether the project had approval from the state Department of Transportation; staff confirmed DOT approval had been received. Commissioners also noted the downtown work grew out of Huron Rising 2, a public–private partnership in which the city has been a sponsor alongside the Huron Community Foundation and the Greater Huron Development Corporation.
The final roll-call on the waiver was: Commissioner Smith — Aye; Commissioner Klute — Aye; Commissioner Craig — Aye; Commissioner Harvey — Nay; Commissioner Mary Robich — Nay. The motion carried by that 3-2 margin. Following the vote, commissioners directed staff to coordinate implementation details, work through any variance or square-footage issues on a case-by-case basis, and proceed with the signage installation schedule so signs could be in place before the July 3 event.
The commission’s action covers permit fees only; the transcript records that property owners or the sponsoring organizations will bear fabrication costs and that volunteers will assist with mounting the signs.
