The York County Planning Commission on Jan. 8 approved a master sign plan for the Newport Commons planned development, allowing four monument entrance signs (including two large signs up to 20 feet tall and up to 150 square feet of message area) and permitting individual monument signs for outparcels along with expanded wall‑sign options under the PD standards.

Planning staff explained the master sign plan establishes dimensional standards for Pod 1 of the PD and that some proposed elements deviate from the county’s base code (notably an extra entrance sign and outparcel monument signs). Staff said parts of the master sign plan reflect a text amendment currently under review by county council that would adjust wall‑sign rules; those proposed changes could reduce the number of deviations over time.

Commissioners raised several concerns: the 20‑foot height and 150‑square‑foot message area for the largest entrance signs, potential sight‑line and traffic impacts for vehicles entering outparcels on Old York Road, and whether large monument signs might be used primarily to advertise a single anchor tenant rather than multiple businesses. Planning staff and the applicant, Mark Kusevski of MJM Architects, said civil plan review, DOT standards and sight‑distance analysis will be required during later engineering review and that the master sign plan defines message area, not the sign content. “As for the messaging, it is unclear for right now how many tenants we may have,” Mark Kusevski said; he said the application seeks dimensional flexibility so tenants can be accommodated once leases are secured.

A motion to approve the master sign plan as presented by staff was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded in the transcript. Staff noted that final permitting will require civil engineer reviews, sight‑distance checks and DOT coordination where applicable.