Cottonwood Heights panel approves YETI Bar signs with setback, base and lighting conditions

Cottonwood Heights — On Dec. 18, 2025, the Cottonwood Heights Architecture Review Commission approved a certificate of design compliance for two signs for YETI Bar and Lounge at 7333 South Canyon Center Parkway, adopting conditions intended to align the new signage with adjacent storefronts and protect the signs from street maintenance.

City planning staff recommended approval after presenting the application and site images. The staff described a two-sided monument sign roughly 54 inches by 72 inches and a wall sign about 64 inches by 46 inches, and concluded the proposals were consistent with the Gateway Overlay District design guidelines. “The staff recommendation is approval,” the city planning staff said during the presentation.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on siting and mounting details. The applicant, Michael B. Dodd, said the owner preferred the monument sign be placed closer to the tenant storefront to ease power routing, but commissioners said the new sign should not protrude farther toward the sidewalk than neighboring signs. Commissioners specifically asked that the monument sign match the setback of the nearby 8 Settlers sign and be mounted on a concrete pad (a ‘‘mopad’’) or pedestal to raise it slightly above the uneven rock grade and protect it from landscaping and snow removal.

Lighting was a key point of discussion. The applicant had originally proposed an internally illuminated cabinet wall sign but presented an alternate gooseneck-lit panel; commissioners debated the options and lighting intensity. The commission noted that the Gateway Overlay District’s design guidelines do not explicitly prohibit cabinet signs and can be interpreted with discretion. Commissioners indicated a preference for a subdued amber tone (staff discussed a 3,500K LED specification) to keep illumination consistent with nearby signage.

Commissioner Jesse Allen moved to approve the project with three conditions: (1) the monument sign must be mounted on a concrete pad/pedestal that raises it a few inches above grade; (2) the monument sign must be set back to align with the adjacent 8 Settlers sign; and (3) the wall sign may be an internally lit cabinet with lighting calibrated to a dim amber tone compatible with nearby signs. The motion was seconded by Nils Valentiner and was approved unanimously by voice vote.

Staff said it will revise the selected design option to incorporate the commission’s stipulations and send the updated materials back to the applicant for finalization. The commission then returned to the consent agenda, approved the meeting minutes as listed, and adjourned.

What the commission decided — at a glance: • Project: SPL-25-004, YETI Bar and Lounge, 7333 S. Canyon Center Parkway • Decision: Certificate of design compliance approved with stipulations • Key conditions: concrete pad/pedestal for monument sign; setback aligned with adjacent 8 Settlers sign; wall sign lighting permitted as an internally lit cabinet with subdued/amber lighting

The applicant and staff will follow up with a revised design submittal that implements the commission’s conditions.