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Board of Adjustment denies McDonald’s sign variance at 6320 East Bluestein Boulevard
Summary
The Austin Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to deny a request to increase the height and area of a proposed McDonald’s sign, concluding that the applicant had not shown sufficient justification for the unusually large variance.
The Austin Board of Adjustment on an April meeting denied a variance request to increase the height and area of a proposed McDonald’s sign at 6320 East Bluestein Boulevard Southbound. The applicant’s representative requested permission to raise the sign height from the code maximum of 35 feet to 60 feet and to increase sign face area to about 314.86 square feet.
The applicant’s representative, Michael Everett, said the site’s elevation and trees near the adjacent toll road limit visibility from the roadway and that a taller, larger sign was needed so drivers could see the restaurant. Everett said the sign “would fully comply with Austin's local lighting regulations” and that shielding and brightness limits would be used to avoid glare.
Board members questioned that justification, noting the nearby highway exits and existing signs in the corridor. Board member Maggie Sherastani asked Everett to clarify the asserted safety concern, and Everett replied the concern was drivers making “a hasty decision” if they could not see signage clearly. Board member Jeffrey Bowen noted the site sits along a toll road and that motorists who are committed on the toll road would already have missed nearby exits, calling the requested size “a whole lot.”
Board member Michael Von Nolan moved to deny the variance, saying, “The golden arches are familiar worldwide,” and arguing that drivers can locate a McDonald’s using phone-based directions rather than an oversized sign. Board member Jeffrey Bowen seconded the motion.
The motion carried on a roll-call vote. Board members voting to deny included Tommy Yates; Jessica Cohen, chair; Melissa Hawthorne, vice chair; Young Ju Kim; Brian Poteet; Maggie Sherastani; Jeffrey Bowen; Janelle Van Zant; Michael Von Owen; and Bianca Medina Leal. The board announced that the variance was denied and moved to the next agenda item.
The applicant had sought an additional 25 feet of height (from 35 to 60 feet) and roughly an additional 210.3 square feet of sign area for a total of approximately 314.86 square feet; those figures were stated in the applicant’s presentation. The board’s action was a denial of the variance request and not an approval with conditions.
