Planning commission recommends taller on‑premise signs near I‑70, forwards to county commission

The Grand County Planning Commission on Oct. 27 recommended that the County Commission approve a text amendment allowing taller freestanding on‑premise signs in the highway commercial zone within 350 feet of Interstate 70. Staff described the change as limited to on‑premise, freestanding signs (not off‑premise billboards) and said the proposed standard would allow signs up to 65 feet above site grade or 50 feet above the adjacent highway, whichever is greater.

Andrew, planning staff, said the change was prompted after an administrative judge denied a variance the applicant sought, and the judge suggested the correct route was a zone text amendment. He noted the rule applies only where property is both in the highway commercial zone and within the specified distance of I‑70; many highway commercial parcels also lie outside that buffer and would not be affected.

The commission opened the public hearing and heard no testimony. A commissioner moved for a favorable recommendation and the body voted to send the ordinance to the County Commission; the chair said the public hearing record will remain open until Nov. 4 so written comments may be submitted to the county administrator.

The planning commission’s favorable recommendation does not adopt the ordinance; it forwards the draft and record to the County Commission for final consideration and any legal consistency checks (for example regarding state right‑of‑way rules) before adoption.