The Germantown Design Review Commission on Oct. 28 approved a variance allowing the existing ground sign for the Starbucks/Pinnacle Financial Partners property to be relocated nearer to South Germantown Road, waiving the city's 30-foot setback requirement by roll call vote, 6-1.

Planning staff told the commission the sign had been approved at this corner in 2015 and removed when the right-of-way was widened. The applicant proposed re-locating the same sign to a new spot shown on the submitted site plan that would place it 12 feet from Germantown Road and 19 feet from Wolf/Trail Cove, and staff asked the commission to waive the normal 30-foot setback for a ground-mounted sign.

The proposal places the sign within a private water-line easement, staff said, and utilities maps show a sanitary sewer, a water line and fiber optic conduit near the front property edge. Staff also said the city engineer inspected the proposed location and deemed it acceptable. Planning staff told commissioners the public utility easements do not permit encroachments but that this is a private easement owned by the property owner, who would bear maintenance responsibility.

Harold Jackson, speaking for the applicant, said the bank and Starbucks management are "definitely interested in having a sign back" and are looking forward to reinstalling it.

Commission discussion focused on whether the relocation was effectively unavoidable because of the road-widening and on safety implications. Supporters said the widening and associated construction easements left the property owner few options and that placing the sign over the private water-line easement meant the owner would assume maintenance responsibility. One commissioner said the owner likely received compensation when the right-of-way was taken and urged caution in granting exceptions to setback standards. Another commissioner opposed the exception, saying the reduced setback created potential sight-line and pedestrian-safety risks at the busy corner.

The motion to approve the ground-mounted sign relocation carried on roll call, with the following recorded votes: Mister Schmidt, Yes; Miss Meanwell, Yes; Mister Carney, Yes; Miss Kimbrough, Yes; Mister Schweikofer, No; Alderman Hicks, Yes; Chairman Bruns, Yes. No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period for this item.

With the variance approved, the applicant may proceed with the sign relocation subject to any conditions in the staff report and standard permitting processes.