Laurel council approves signage variance for Love’s Travel Stops and adopts LURA code change; two appointments confirmed
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Summary
On Dec. 22, 2025, the Laurel City Council voted unanimously to approve a variance allowing Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to exceed the Highway Commercial signage limit and adopted Ordinance O25-02 amending the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency code; Peggy Pollock and Cheryl Hill were appointed to four-year LURA terms.
LAUREL, Mont. — The Laurel City Council on Dec. 22 voted unanimously to approve a variance that will allow Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to exceed the on‑premises signage limit in the Highway Commercial zoning district and to adopt a code amendment related to the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency.
The council approved Resolution No. R25-103, which accepted a variance application for signage overage; the motion passed on a 7-0 vote. Council members said the overage stemmed from a discrepancy between the city’s newly adopted zoning code and the prior method used to calculate allowable sign area.
The staff variance report (VAR-25-03) attached to the case shows the difference between the new and prior methodologies is 408.53 square feet. The report states the subject parcel is 34.239 acres, the application was submitted Nov. 25, 2025, and the Laurel Zoning Commission held a public hearing Dec. 18, 2025 and recommended approval by a 6-0 vote.
Council also adopted Ordinance No. O25-02 (second reading), amending Title 20, Chapter 02 of the Laurel Municipal Code to address matters related to the Laurel Urban Renewal Agency (LURA). The ordinance passed on a 7-0 roll-call vote.
The mayor appointed Peggy Pollock to a four‑year voting-member term on LURA ending Dec. 31, 2029, and Cheryl Hill to a four‑year advisory position with the same term end date. Cheryl Hill told the council she was "excited to move this project forward." Both appointments were approved 7-0.
City staff clarified during the meeting that the variance illustrates a coding inconsistency: the new code lists a numeric square‑foot allowance (300 square feet), whereas the previous approach tied allowable signage to linear frontage. The variance report and staff analyses were entered into the record for council consideration.
Other routine business included approval of consent items and minutes, proclamation of Oct. 6, 2026, as Arbor Day, and the ceremonial swearing-in of council members elected to take office in January. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
The city packet includes the variance report (VAR-25-03) and the Zoning Commission recommendation; council materials list Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores as the applicant and Effective Images, Inc., Kevin Keup as the agent.