Logansport board approves electronic message sign for American Legion with conditions

The Logansport Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance on Feb. 2 allowing Cass County American Legion Post number 60 to install an electronic message center sign at 828 Burlington Avenue, subject to conditions including removal of the existing sign before permits are issued and a requirement to address lighting complaints.

Planning staff told the board the city’s commercial sign standards permit electronic message centers in some districts but not in the B4 General Business District where the American Legion property sits. Staff summarized standards for such signs — orientation perpendicular to the road, a minimum 100-foot separation from residential uses, display duration no more than four seconds and transition time no more than one second — and said the proposed sign would be about 135 feet from the adjacent south property line and about 160 feet from the nearest house. Staff recommended an automatic dimmer control and said the petitioner should work with staff or return to the board if lighting becomes an issue.

Laurie Barkus, who identified herself as the petitioner’s financial officer, spoke for the American Legion group and said the new sign can be dimmed remotely and that the group would ‘‘absolutely abide’’ by any conditions the board required. Barkus also said she would coordinate with the sign company contact (identified in testimony as Collin/Collins) and an electrician for removal and installation tasks and that the petitioner intended to remove the older sign.

Board members discussed sign area and separation. Planning staff clarified the maximum allowable area cited in the meeting is 32 square feet and that the proposed sign met that limit. The board considered landscaping around the new sign as a neighborly measure but decided not to make plantings a formal condition of approval. Members also asked technical questions about post footings and mounting; materials shown to the board indicated base plates and post anchors rather than a large slab.

Before voting, the board read conditions of approval into the record: that petitioner proposals become binding conditions; that all other ordinance standards be met; that applicable state and local permits be obtained and proof submitted to the zoning administrator; that the required newspaper affidavit be obtained before a permit is issued; and that the existing sign be removed before permits are issued. The board added a commitment that the petitioner would work with staff or return to the board if lighting becomes an issue.

A motion to bring Case 2602 to a vote was seconded. In a roll-call conducted by the secretary, Tom Nelson, John Brown, Tom Howell and Steph Helton voted yes. The chair announced the case approved with conditions and said the zoning administrator will send a letter with the hearing results; any interested party may appeal to circuit court if a notice is filed within 30 days. The board adjourned at 4:31 p.m.