Aurora panel approves larger Amazon signs, citing long road setback
Loading...
Summary
The Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved two sign adjustments at the Amazon Porteos facility at 6300 Powhatan — increasing two wall signs (to 270 and 330 sq ft) and raising the site's total allowed signage to 1,128 sq ft — finding the large setback minimizes visual impact.
The Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission approved two sign adjustments for the Amazon Porteos facility at 6300 Powhatan on Nov. 25, voting 7-0 to increase the size of individual wall signs and to raise the maximum total site signage.
Case manager Caitlin Forner told commissioners the proposal seeks two major adjustments: enlarging two wall signs to address visibility at a building set back more than 700 feet from Powhatan Road and increasing the site's total signage allowance to 1,128 square feet. Forner said staff found the larger signs would have limited visual impact because of the deep setback and noted similar, smaller signs exist elsewhere in the Porteos area.
"The building is set back over 700 feet from that road," Forner said, describing why larger sign faces are necessary for visibility.
Commissioner Riley raised a concern about the on-site notice sign’s placement, saying the posted sign was set behind a gate and difficult to read. Forner said the applicant supplied a photo of the posted notice and staff could not confirm whether nighttime gate positions would affect readability.
Chairman Walls moved to approve the wall sign size adjustment — increasing the prior 200-square-foot limit to 270 square feet for sign 1 and 330 square feet for sign 2 — citing staff findings and the record. Commissioner Busch seconded. After a roll call, commissioners Juchek (approve), Bush (approve), Geiser (approve), Bridal (approve), Benka (approve), Hogan (approve) and Walls (approve) voted in favor.
The commission also approved the separate motion to increase total site signage from 600 square feet to 1,128 square feet, again by a 7-0 vote. Both approvals rely on staff’s finding that the adjustments meet the UDO criteria for no material adverse impact and minimal visual effect given the building’s setback and surrounding industrial context.
Both approvals were granted without conditions beyond standard technical corrections and the usual recordation steps. The commission closed the public hearing on the items after confirming no members of the public had signed up to speak.
