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Commission approves larger sign for Coral Cliffs Entertainment with conditions on brightness and complaints
Summary
The planning commission granted an exception for a sign larger than zoning allows at 835 W. State St., requiring the applicant to agree to dimming and hours controls if complaints arise; commissioners also flagged a potential citywide sign brightness standard review.
The Lehi Planning Commission approved an exception to the city’s sign-size limit for Coral Cliffs Entertainment at 835 West State Street, granting a larger sign area while raising concerns about brightness and driver distraction.
Nick Davis, who identified himself as a representative of Rainbow Sign and Banner, told commissioners the applicant intends to reuse the existing foundation and poles for a new 34.5-foot-tall sign with a message center that would exceed the city’s square-footage limit. Davis said the proposed display uses Watchfire-brand technology and that the hardware’s default night-time maximum brightness is 700 nits (set as a 10 percent limit of the daytime capability) and can be dimmed or turned off by schedule.
Commissioners and staff focused on two issues: the proposed sign’s square footage exceeds the code limit (the existing limit is 200 square feet and the proposed screen area was described as about 225 square feet) and the brightness and motion of a high-resolution message center. A commissioner relayed concerns from the police chief that a bright, animated screen could distract drivers and asked the commission to consider conditions or a future sign-brightness standard.
Davis said his company’s panel has a lower apparent nighttime brightness because the display’s pixel structure nests red, green and blue into a single node, producing a display that, in his characterization, is about 30 percent less bright than older “true pixel” boards; he added the displays can be dimmed, turned off at scheduled hours and that his company has not received neighbor complaints at a similar installation in St. George.
City counsel and planning staff told commissioners they may deny an oversized-sign exception if the commission finds a safety hazard or community interest reason; alternatively, the commission may approve the exception with conditions. Commissioners discussed both options and suggested the city consider a future amendment to the sign ordinance that would set a brightness standard and an enforcement mechanism for complaints.
A motion to approve the greater-size sign was made and seconded; the commission approved the request and included a condition that the applicant be willing to work with the city if complaints arise and to agree to reasonable dimming or restricted hours. The transcript records the motion and a voice vote (“All in favor. Aye.”); exact vote tallies were not specified in the record.
Commissioners signaled they will return to the broader question of a citywide brightness standard for message centers as part of future sign-code updates.
