Council approves sign variances for Whataburger on Ringgold Road over staff objections and ordinance limits

The East Ridge City Council on April 20 approved a variance to the city’s sign ordinance allowing two detached signs for the new Whataburger at 6521 Ringgold Road: a 90‑foot pylon sign and a larger monument sign. The council voted 4–1; Council member Cagle voted no.

Staff and applicant presentation

Houston Woodis of Houston General Sign Company presented the request and site constraints, explaining the business sought a pylon sign to maintain visibility from the Interstate 75 off‑ramp and raised approach on Ringgold Road. Woodis said topography and existing vegetation along the interstate mean building‑mounted signs and a standard monument sign would be obscured to passing traffic, and that a tall pylon would provide acceptable visibility.

Council concerns and background

Council member Cagle led an extended critique of the proposal’s compliance with East Ridge’s sign code and the ordinance’s history. Cagle read from sign regulations and several past council actions, including a moratorium and a later code revision that moved sign appeals to city council. He pointed out that the requested signs exceed the city’s stated size and height limits and said the site already has multiple outdoor advertising displays. “So we’re about 3 signs too many according to our ordinance,” Cagle said, noting the application did not meet several numeric requirements in the sign code.

Other councilors and staff noted that the subject property is private property outside the TDOT right‑of‑way, that CARTA/TDOT rules for outdoor advertising do not block private‑property signs, and that prior council approvals for other large pylon signs (Bass Pro, Topgolf, Ridgewood Village) set local precedents. City staff told council that a prior ordinance change moved land‑development regulation appeals (including sign variances) to the council rather than to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Vote and immediate outcome

A motion to approve Resolution 3676 passed on a 4–1 roll call: Vice Mayor Tyler — yes; Council member Cagle — no; Council member Ezell — yes; Council member Witt — yes; Mayor Williams — yes. Council member Witt made the motion to approve and Vice Mayor Tyler seconded.

Clarifying details

- Property: 6521 Ringgold Road (tax map 169‑LD‑004.01). - Requested pylon sign: 90 feet tall from grade, two faces, 363 sq. ft. proposed (variance requested from standard limits). - Requested monument sign: 12 feet tall, two faces, 67 sq. ft. - Staff and council discussion referenced East Ridge Sign Ordinance No. 10‑28 and state statutes around outdoor advertising; council noted the site’s large setback (approx. 45 feet total from right‑of‑way for the monument sign) and the presence of existing billboards on the parcel.

Speakers (excerpts used in article)

- Houston Woodis — Houston General Sign Company (business). First reference: Houston Woodis, Houston General Sign Company, applicant representative. - Council member Cagle — Council member (government: City of East Ridge). First reference: Council member Cagle. - Vice Mayor Tyler — Vice Mayor (government: City of East Ridge). First reference: Vice Mayor Tyler. - Council member Ezell — Council member (government: City of East Ridge). First reference: Council member Ezell. - Council member Witt — Council member (government: City of East Ridge). First reference: Council member Witt. - Charles Williams — Mayor (government: City of East Ridge). First reference: Mayor Charles Williams.

Direct quote(s)

- Houston Woodis (applicant representative): “Due to the topography and elevation… the visibility of the attached building signs and the monument sign will be obscured from the interstate traffic. A pylon sign would provide visibility to the site.” - Council member Cagle: “So we’re about 3 signs too many according to our ordinance.”

Topics

- Primary: land-use-signage - Other tags: sign-variance, Whataburger, Ringgold Road, Interstate-visibility

Why this topic

The decision changes how a high‑traffic commercial site on Ringgold Road will be signed and illustrates continuing tensions between the city’s written sign standards and council discretion on variances.

Implementation and follow up

Resolution 3676 was approved at the meeting and the applicant may proceed with the approved sign permits subject to building and electrical permits and any conditions contained in the resolution package.

Authorities cited in discussion

- East Ridge Sign Ordinance No. 10‑28 (city land development regulation). - State code citations and prior city ordinances referenced in council discussion (specific state citations were cited generically during discussion; staff confirmed amendments to local ordinances moving LDR appeals to city council).