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BZA approves 30-foot Culver's pole sign for Chester Boulevard site
Summary
The Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance allowing a 30-foot pylon sign with 114.14 square feet of signage for a Culver's at 2110 Chester Boulevard, despite one written objection citing safety and consistency concerns. Staff recommended approval, citing site visibility and comparable nearby signs.
The Richmond Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously Feb. 11 to grant a variance allowing a 30-foot-tall pylon sign with 114.14 square feet of total signage for the proposed Culver's at 2110 Chester Boulevard.
Lauren Obendorf, agent for the applicant, told the board the North Corridor’s four-lane, 40 mph roadway, building setbacks and development patterns make a taller, larger sign necessary for motorists to identify and safely access the site. "We're requesting a variance of the development standards to allow for the installation of a 30-foot tall pylon pole sign within the North Corridor District," Obendorf said, adding the sign consists of a 64.14-square-foot static cabinet and a 50-square-foot electric message center for a total of 114.14 square feet.
Planning staff recommended approval, noting pole signs are disallowed in the overlay but concluding the requested relief would not injure public health or safety and citing comparable nearby signs. The staff report listed nearby properties with tall or large signs, including a 24-foot CVS sign (92.4 sq. ft.) and a 35-foot Taco Bell sign (96 sq. ft.), and said the proposed design would be professionally installed and should not obstruct sight lines.
The record included one mailed objection from James Meyer of 2105 Chester Boulevard, who said he opposed a 30-foot digital sign and argued that a large electronic display would be an eyesore and pose a distraction on a busy intersection.
After questions about construction timing—petitioner Bob Goins said site work would begin in about 30 days and the sign would likely be installed around the third month of a roughly four-month build—the board moved to approve based on staff findings. Roll call produced four votes in favor and none opposed; the motion passed.
The variance approval allows the freestanding pole sign as described; no additional conditions or a separate implementation schedule were recorded in the hearing minutes.
