Representative says building siting and trees justify larger Pickleball Kingdom sign; board grants variance

Megan Ellis, speaking for Pickleball Kingdom and Advanced Sun and Lighting, asked the Homewood City Board of Zoning Adjustments on March 5 to allow a storefront sign larger than current local code permits at 251 Lakeshore Parkway. Ellis said the building sits down inside a hill and about 500 feet from Lakeshore Parkway, and that trees and nearby buildings reduce visibility, making the larger sign necessary for identification.

"With the sign at the proposed size that we have it at, it still only takes up less than 5% of the building frontage," Ellis told the board, citing her hardship and noting the tenant’s logo could not be removed because of copyright restrictions.

Board members pressed for visual context and proportions: one member asked how the proposed 10‑foot‑2‑inch sign height compared with the building profile; Ellis responded that the shorter portion of the building is about 29 feet tall and that the proposed sign height is approximately one‑third of that elevation. Members also asked whether similar relief had been granted since the ordinance was updated; staff answered that taller signs had been allowed under the prior ordinance but that the current ordinance has been enforced since it changed.

After discussion, a motion to approve the sign variance passed by recorded vote (one member voted no). The board noted the applicant has one year to file for a building permit for the approved sign.

Why it matters: Sign size and placement affect visibility for businesses and the character of commercial corridors. The board’s decision allows Pickleball Kingdom to install a larger storefront sign at the stated location, subject to permitting and code conditions.

Speakers quoted in this article are drawn directly from the meeting transcript.