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Board approves drive-through sign for Raising Cane's outlot; freestanding sign continued
Summary
The board granted a variance for an additional drive-through menu/presale sign at 8733 U.S. 31 (Raising Cane's) and continued a freestanding pylon sign request after splitting the ballot.
The Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals, Division 3, granted a variance allowing a third drive-through/presale board for a Raising Cane's outlot at 8733 U.S. 31 (Perry Township, Council District 23) but continued the petitioner's request for a freestanding pylon sign after a split vote.
Chris Russell, representing the sign vendor and the restaurant developer (Casada LLC), described a standard 20-foot, 5-by-10-foot pylon sign and a presale board for the drive-through to speed customer service and give motorists time to enter the left lane. He said the site cannot join the integrated center's multi-tenant pylon sign and therefore needs its own freestanding sign to be visible from U.S. 31.
Staff provided a split recommendation: staff recommended approval of the drive-through sign but recommended denial of the freestanding sign. Staff reasoned that freestanding signs are not required for development, that granting an exception would set a poor precedent and add visual clutter for motorists, and that other signage options (wall/building signs) remain available. Staff noted the site is an outlot with close frontage to U.S. 31 and observed that existing integrated-center tenants do not all have freestanding sign space.
The board split the ballot so members could vote separately on the drive-through sign and the freestanding pylon sign. On the drive-through sign (Ballot A) Rhianna Binder, Brian Hannon and Joanna Taft voted yes and the variance for the drive-through sign was granted. On the freestanding sign (Ballot B) the board recorded votes of Rhianna Binder no, Joanna Taft yes, and Brian Hannon yes; because action requires unanimous approval the freestanding sign portion was continued to the July 15 hearing for indecisive vote.
Staff asked the petitioner to consider alternatives such as wall signage or joining an existing pylon if leasing arrangements change; the petitioner said sight lines from the roadway and the inability to access the center's multi-tenant sign justified the request for a separate pylon.
The drive-through sign approval allows the restaurant to install an additional menu/presale board to assist with drive-through operations; the freestanding sign request remains pending.
