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Council grants limited sign variance at Levon Drive shop after heated debate
Summary
After contested public comment and legal discussion, council approved a major waiver allowing a 30-square-foot wall sign at 136 Levon Drive while ordering removal of other signage; two council members voted against the measure.
The Garland City Council on Aug. 5 granted a major waiver allowing a wall sign larger than the downtown-code standard to remain at 136 Levon Drive, while directing removal of an additional sign on the building’s northeast side. The action followed extensive public comment and debate.
Code compliance staff described multiple citations issued after the applicant installed signage that exceeded the size permitted under the downtown-suburban corridor rules. Planning staff recommended reducing allowed signage to 30 square feet for the front façade and denying the separate east-side sign because it lacked a qualifying public entrance. Plan commission concurred with staff recommendations.
Owner Rashad Haidir told council the building’s signage had been present when he purchased the property and that he invested about $2 million in the business and improvements. He said he would remove the smaller side sign that had read "alignment" and requested the council allow the front façade sign to remain. “I am willing to work with the city,” Haidir said, adding that citations tied to neighbor complaints had been dismissed in court in his prior appearances.
Council debate focused on enforcement consistency, the intent of the 2015 sign ordinance, and the visual character of the downtown corridor. Mayor Pro Tem Luck moved to limit the front sign to 10 square feet; that amendment failed on a 4‑5 vote. The prevailing motion, by Councilmember Chris Beard and seconded by Councilmember Carissa Dutton, allowed up to a 30-square-foot front façade sign and ordered removal of the northeast-side sign; the motion passed 7–2 with Mayor Pro Tem Luck and Councilmember Jeff Bass recorded in opposition.
Staff noted that some nearby properties display larger or older signs that are likely grandfathered under earlier codes and that removal of those pole or pylon signs was not part of the council action. The council’s decision established site-specific sign allowances and required removal of the additional building-side signage cited by staff. Permit and code‑compliance follow-up will verify removal and measure conformance.
