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Planning commission approves directional sign variance for 1201 Graham Road (PC-2026-001)
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a 6-inch height variance to allow a 4.5-foot directional ground sign ~40–41 feet from Graham Road for the ReWorks collection center at 1201 Graham Road, conditioned on staking/inspection of the right-of-way and with a fire-department recommendation for site identification.
The Stow City Planning Commission voted to approve application PC-2026-001, a sign-height variance for a directional ground sign at 1201 Graham Road serving the ReWorks collection center.
Planning staff described the proposed directional sign as about 4.5 feet tall to remain visible above a slight grade change and to avoid being obscured by winter snow. The existing code maximum for directional ground signs is 3 feet, so the application required a six-inch variance. Staff told the commission the sign would be located roughly 40–41 feet from the edge of Graham Road and recommended approval with conditions: the right-of-way and proposed sign location must be staked and inspected before installation, and engineering had advised the sign must not be within the right-of-way. The fire department recommended the sign be installed for emergency site identification because the ReWorks property sits far back from the road.
Debbie Ellet Stein, who identified her address as 3041 East Waterloo Road in Akron, Ohio, was sworn in and spoke in favor of the variance, saying the higher sign height would prevent snow from covering the directional sign and would not interfere with the property's main sign. Staff confirmed written property-owner authorization for an off-premise sign had been submitted and was included in the meeting packet.
A motion to approve PC-2026-001 was made and seconded; the commission conducted a roll call vote with Wagner, Prescott, Treptoe, Basic and Dekulyak voting in favor. The motion carried and the variance was approved subject to the pre-installation staking and inspection condition. Staff also reminded the commission that the revised city zoning code becomes effective Feb. 9 and that some last-minute amendments will be revisited in March; related formal council actions were noted for Feb. 12.
The commission did not record any amendments to the applicant's proposal and did not impose additional conditions beyond the staking/inspection and right-of-way compliance.
