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Historic Preservation Board approves larger projecting sign for Stafford House at 101 East Main
Summary
The Historic Preservation Board approved a variance for a projecting sign at 101 East Main Street (Stafford House) that exceeds the 20-square-foot-per-face limit; staff and the applicant were directed to coordinate permitting and the board flagged concerns about setting a precedent for multiple large signs on large façades.
The Historic Preservation Board voted to approve a variance allowing a projecting sign larger than the ordinance limit at 101 East Main Street, known in the transcript as the Stafford House.Speakers at the meeting described the sign as 42 square feet per side, exceeding the 20-square-foot-per-face limit set in Chapter 19 of the sign ordinance. Staff (Speaker 3) told the board that the sign’s design and look had been administratively approved earlier, and that size is checked later during permitting, which is why the variance was before the board.
Board member (Speaker 2) moved to approve the variance. The motion was recorded and the board voted in favor; the Chair (Speaker 1) declared the motion passed. Staff told the applicant to coordinate with permit technicians and the building official (Kirk) to complete permitting and administrative checks.
Why it matters: Staff warned the board that the city is still operating under the existing Chapter 19 sign ordinance while a reworked sign ordinance is on hold by council direction. Several board members said the flat 20-square-foot limit does not always fit larger façades and that the board should consider façade size in future ordinance revisions.
Applicant comments and board concerns: Applicant Ricky Bates (Speaker 4) said the existing Katy Depot sign is being removed and the Stafford-facing sign will be the primary sign on that façade. Several board members compared the request to other large signs already approved, and Speaker 6 raised a specific concern that approving this sign could establish a precedent allowing many more similarly large projecting signs on the Katy Depot building. Staff responded that current code language does not explicitly prevent multiple projecting signs on a large façade and that any future signs would be considered individually.
What the approval does and next steps: The approval grants the variance needed for the larger projecting sign; staff will work with the applicant and the building-permit office to ensure permit-level checks are completed. The transcript contains an inconsistency in the case identifier: the item introduction lists the case as "2020Five-65H" while the motion references "25-65H." The transcript does not identify individual roll-call votes or a named second; the motion and second were both attributed to Board member (Speaker 2) in the record, which may be a transcription artifact; staff confirmed they will coordinate on permitting.
