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Board approves sign variance for STLCC Wildwood campus with lighting and timer conditions
Summary
The Wildwood Board of Adjustment unanimously approved BA 28-24 on Dec. 19, 2024, granting a variance for a 191.33-square-foot corner informational/architectural sign at the new St. Louis Community College Wildwood campus, conditioned on a timer and a 4,000-Kelvin reflected-light limit.
The Wildwood Board of Adjustment on Dec. 19 unanimously approved a variance allowing a large corner informational/architectural sign at the new St. Louis Community College Wildwood campus building, provided the sign is fitted with a timer and the reflected/backlit illumination does not exceed 4,000 Kelvin.
Planner Robin Keefe told the board the new campus building is roughly 150,000 square feet and is sited within the Wildwood Town Center. Keefe said the petitioner initially proposed backlighting at 7,000 Kelvin, above the city's outdoor-lighting limit, but subsequently reduced the design to 4,000 Kelvin, which meets the lighting standard. The department characterized the corner element as an informational/architectural feature that exceeds the 10-square-foot allowance for informational signs and therefore requires a variance.
Keefe reported the Architectural Review Board reviewed the sign on Dec. 12 and supported it with conditions: install a timer so the sign cannot be lit after 10:30 p.m. daily, and ensure reflected light from the backlit sign does not exceed 4,000 Kelvin. The department recommended that those conditions be retained in the Board of Adjustment's action to guarantee construction and operation conform to the ARB review.
Andy Hrdlicka, the sign contractor representing the petitioner, said the contractor had "fixed the lighting issue and we're able to go down to 4,000 Kelvin and still get a result that the customer was happy with." Hrdlicka emphasized that the façade element functions as an architectural feature rather than advertising copy.
A board member moved to approve the variance with the department's conditions; the motion was seconded. Chair Jared Frank called the roll: Bob Morris, Anthony Reiner, Arnie Sprunger, Michael Lee and Frank all voted to approve. The board announced the variance approved with the conditions (timer to prevent operation after 10:30 p.m. and reflected-light limit of 4,000 K). Two written comments had been received and were reported as opposed, focusing on lighting concerns.
The board's action permits the corner informational sign subject to the stated operational restrictions; staff requested the board include those conditions in its action to ensure they are incorporated into construction and installation.
