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North Augusta BZA approves variance allowing 13.5 sq ft alley-facing sign for local sign-maker
Summary
The Board granted Stacy Atkins a variance allowing a 13.5 sq ft non-illuminated wall sign at 207 East Clifton Ave, finding hardship due to building context and irregular alley-facing location; approval included conditions limiting replacement and additional signage.
The North Augusta Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously approved a variance on Nov. 4 that allows sign-maker Stacy Atkins to keep an existing alley-facing wall sign at 207 East Clifton Avenue that causes the property to exceed the R‑7 district’s 8‑square‑foot signage limit.
Staff explained the site houses a long-standing home occupation (a small sign shop operating from the rear of the property) and that the combined area of an existing front identification sign (1.04 sq ft) plus the proposed accessory-structure sign totals about 14.02 square feet in staff calculations. During the hearing staff corrected a typographical error in the packet that had listed 34.79 sq ft. Applicant Stacy Atkins said the sign was intentionally made to fit a previous sign-box frame and to be seen only from the alley. "I tried to follow that... I made it the height so that the mounting screws and the holes..." Atkins said, describing efforts to minimize the apparent size and visual impact.
Board members walked through the ten variance criteria in the North Augusta development code and found in the applicant’s favor on hardship, unusual conditions (the parcel’s alley-front location and mapping irregularity), lack of public detriment, and other tests. Staff and members discussed measurement methodology for irregularly shaped signs and whether any identification‑sign exemptions applied; staff said the code does not clearly provide the applicant’s argued exemption.
The motion to approve (moved and seconded on the record) included four conditions: the variance applies only to this property and the sign details as submitted; replacement of the sign must meet the sign code in place at that time or return for another variance if the new sign differs materially; no additional signage shall be installed without compliance with Article 9 or a subsequent variance; and the sign shall remain non‑illuminated. The board voted unanimously to approve the variance.
The approval allows Atkins to keep the existing sign under the specified conditions; any substantive change to the sign or additional signage will require compliance with the sign code or a new variance request.
