Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Signage Shepherd Arms topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan commissioners question oversized Shepherd Arms signage; public hearing set for Dec. 10
Summary
The commission discussed an exception request by Shepherd Arms to exceed window-coverage and wall-sign limits at a Main Street location; owner Damien Shepherd said heavy signage and a large garage-door graphic were added for delivery safety and cited ATF guidance; commissioners asked the applicant to consider alternatives and scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 10.
Plan commissioners spent an extended portion of the Nov. 12 meeting debating a sign-exception request from Shepherd Arms, a proposed tenant at a Main Street location, and ultimately set a public hearing for Dec. 10.
Planner Amy Bennett summarized the applicant's request: window signage exceeding the code's 75% limit, a wall sign exceeding the 25-square-foot cap, and three awning signs. Commissioners probed whether the proposed materials and sizes comply with the sign code and whether prior exceptions (awnings granted in 2020) affect the current review. Several commissioners said the proposed garage-door graphic and full-coverage window film are "too much" and urged the applicant to reduce sizes to meet code or rework the design so the commission would not need to grant an exception.
Owner Damien Shepherd explained why he installed the prominent dock-door graphic and high-coverage perforated film, telling the commission the change was made to avoid misdeliveries: he cited past delivery errors and said shipments of high-value firearms had gone to incorrect addresses. "In the name of public safety, I did it," Shepherd said, adding that the perforated, shatterproof film allows staff to see out while obscuring interior views. Commissioners suggested alternatives—reduce the top panels, use opaque film or blinds for the upper portion, and shrink the dock sign to the code's 25-square-foot maximum—so that the applicant might not need an exception.
Commissioners repeatedly stressed the importance of consistent code enforcement. One commissioner said exceptions create a "slippery slope" if applied too liberally; another suggested the applicant or staff calculate whether removing the top panels would bring window coverage below 75 percent. Planner Bennett said the public hearing will be held at the Planning Commission on Dec. 10, and that if the applicant elects to revise the plans to meet the code, the exception and public hearing could be canceled.
No formal vote was taken on the exception request Nov. 12; the commission provided design direction and set the Dec. 10 public hearing with action to follow.
