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Board denies LED sign variance for Owens Covey storage facility in unincorporated Oklahoma County
Summary
The Board of Adjustment rejected a request to install an LED component on a new pole sign for the Owens Covey storage facility, with neighbors citing light pollution and traffic safety concerns; vote was 2–1 against the variance.
The Oklahoma County Board of Adjustment voted to deny a variance that would have allowed an LED display on a new pole sign for a storage facility operating as Owens Covey on Southeast 20th Street near Henny.
Applicant Jason Skillern asked to replace an existing monument sign with a pole sign that would include a roughly 2‑foot LED display capable of changing messages. County staff said moving‑message LED displays are prohibited under current county sign regulations, though municipalities on adjacent sides of the parcel (Oklahoma City, Midwest City and Choctaw) allow such signs subject to lumen and scheduling limits.
“It's kind of in a little circle of unincorporated land,” Kate Kotalski of Industrial Signs said, noting that neighboring municipalities permit digital signs under nighttime and lumen schedules. She said any approved sign would adhere to applicable illumination tables and time‑of‑night dimming used in nearby cities.
Neighbors testified in opposition, citing light pollution and safety. Richard Archer, who owns property nearby, said the curve on the road has a history of wrecks and that a changing display could distract drivers. Dustin Archer, who lives directly west of the facility, said the proposed sign would be visible from his kitchen window and described existing light from the storage facility’s security lighting.
“We already have so much light pollution,” Dustin Archer said. Another neighbor, Sandra Archer, said the LED component would add to an already bright environment and make standing at home windows difficult at night.
Staff also provided maps and photos showing the site in an unincorporated pocket surrounded by multiple municipalities and noted one letter of formal protest from an adjacent property owner. After discussion, a motion to approve the variance failed on roll call: Jennifer Arsenal and Randy Goodman voted no; Cooper Robinson voted yes. With two no votes the request for a moving LED display was denied.
Votes at a glance: Deny LED moving‑message display variance — Nay: Jennifer Arsenal, Randy Goodman; Aye: Cooper Robinson. Outcome: denied.
County staff said the static portion of the proposed sign (business name and contact information) could be illuminated in compliance with existing sign‑face illumination rules, but moving‑message displays remain prohibited without a variance from the board.
