The Hilliard Cleaning Zoning Commission on Jan. 8 approved a variance allowing a two-post (post-style) sign closer to the right-of-way for Wellington Village Senior Living at 5863 Scioto Darby Road, subject to staff conditions and the requirement that the property owner bear relocation costs if utility work requires sign removal.

Staff said the proposed sign is about 7 feet 2 inches high and would be placed roughly 3 feet behind the right-of-way line; the sign style (two-post) is allowed in older Hilliard districts but requires a variance in this location. Staff noted a sanitary-sewer easement that extends roughly 20 feet from the property line and reported the city engineer’s advice that "in the event that the sign ever needs to be moved for work on any of the utilities in the area, including the gravity sewer, that it would be solely on the property owner to foot the cost of the relocation or removal of the sign."

Commission discussion centered on safety, footing, and visibility. A commissioner asked whether the posts would be supported with concrete; applicant representative Sean White said they could concrete the base if the commission preferred. Commissioner comments included concern about the sign’s legibility to drivers and whether the post installation should include a concrete substrate for permanence. Jamie Adams, Wellington Village community manager, said current signage is on the side of the property and prospective residents have difficulty finding the entrance: "...they can't find it because you have to go on the side... So we're trying to make it known that, hey, this is Wellington Village."

Staff recommended approval, noting prior similar variances and that, because the site is tight against the right-of-way, imposing relocation responsibility on the owner is standard practice. A motion to approve with staff conditions was seconded and adopted by roll call 7–0.

Next steps: sign permits and any structural requirements will be processed with building services; the property owner remains responsible for relocation or removal costs if utilities require sign work in the future.