Plan commission denies Westridge Church request for oversized sign on Kane Road

The Eau Claire City Plan Commission voted unanimously to deny a conditional use permit for a 273-square-foot sign proposed at 3906 Kane Road for Westridge Church.

City planner Ed Baumgartner told commissioners the applicant sought a conditional use permit because residential-district rules allow only one sign of up to 32 square feet, and the church’s proposed additional sign would exceed that limit. "The applicant is requesting a conditional use permit tonight for a 273 square foot sign," Baumgartner said, noting the property sits about 409 feet from the road and the applicant argues the setback reduces visibility.

The applicant, Adrian Lamb of La Crosse Sign (Lamb spelled L-A-M-B), said the existing 24-square-foot monument sign is too small and too far back to be read from Kane Road at typical speeds. "People who look at the building wonder what that building is or what it does," Lamb said, arguing a larger supplemental sign would help identification for weddings, funerals and visitors.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on alternatives and on lighting controls. Commissioner Brett Brewster asked whether the sign could be timed or turned off at night to avoid shining into nearby homes: "Could you have it off by 9 p.m. or something like that?" Baumgartner said hours-of-operation conditions are possible but must be firmly supported by the ordinance.

Chair Helgeson said he opposed approval because he believed other options had not been adequately explored. "I am gonna vote no on this proposal. I don't think other options have been looked at, and I have a really difficult time approving a supplemental sign that's eight times the size of the standard maximum limit by ordinance," Helgeson said.

The motion to approve the conditional use permit was made by Chair Helgeson and seconded (second not specified in the record). The roll-call vote recorded each commissioner voting no: Commissioner Brewster — no; Commissioner Holzman — no; Vice Chair Erickson — no; Commissioner Lawson — no; Commissioner Leonard — no; Commissioner Reid — no; Chair Helgeson — no. The motion failed; the permit was denied.

The staff report and applicant materials noted the proposed sign would be 273 square feet; the property already contains a roughly 24-square-foot monument sign, and the applicant said the building is set back approximately 409 feet from the right of way. Staff had one administrative condition recommended (final sign permit processing) but no additional lighting-time restriction was proposed by staff.

Commission discussion centered on visibility, whether a wall sign or relocating a monument sign could address the issue, and whether a cross as an architectural element would be treated as a sign (Baumgartner said content-based determinations would require further legal review). The commission did not adopt any additional conditions because the motion to approve failed.

No public commenters spoke on the item during the hearing.

The denial means the applicant must either revise the proposal (reduce size, relocate, or pursue other sign types) or withdraw the request; staff noted that hours-of-operation or lighting limits could be considered as conditions on a future application if commissioners identify such a basis in the ordinance.