Planning commission approves sign-standard change for New Ebenezer Baptist Church

The City of Florence Planning Commission on Monday approved a targeted amendment to the New Ebenezer Baptist Church planned development district that will allow the church to erect a new monument sign at 312 South Ravenel Street.

Planning staff introduced the request, saying the church wants to put the monument sign on a vacant parcel they own between Ravenel and Brown streets. Staff said the proposed sign would have a display area of about 37 square feet and a total area near 73 square feet with a 10-foot height — larger than the PDD's current allowance of a 5-foot-tall by 8-foot-wide sign with a 24-square-foot display area. Staff recommended amending the PDD to adopt the activity-center (AC) signage standard, which allows up to 80 square feet of display and greater height.

"They would like to put up this monument sign on their church property," planning staff said in presenting the amendment, adding the AC standard "would accommodate what they need." Kenneth Barnes, who identified himself as a member of New Ebenezer Baptist Church, told commissioners the goal was "more visibility for our church and for our recreational center." He said the new sign would be more presentable for traffic on Palmetto Street.

After a brief public hearing in which no one spoke in opposition, a commissioner moved to approve the PDD amendment. The motion carried with affirmative votes announced by the chair. The amendment applies only to the New Ebenezer Church PDD and does not change signage standards for other PDDs.

Next steps: the amendment takes effect following the commission's action and any administrative processing required by city staff.