Sandusky board approves variances for pylon sign at 1931 Cleveland Road to facilitate roundabout

The Sandusky Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to approve two variances that allow a replacement pylon sign at 1931 Cleveland Road to sit closer to the street and lower to the ground than current sign regulations permit.

Planning staff told the board the application, submitted by Advance Sign and Lighting on behalf of property owner S and S Realty, requests a setback variance to place the sign 4 feet from the right-of-way instead of the 15 feet required and a vertical-clearance variance lowering minimum clearance from 8.5 feet to about 5.75 feet. Staff recommended approval, saying the city’s planned roundabout and additional right-of-way mean the sign’s leading edge will be about 17 feet from the back of the curb and that the configuration should not impair driver visibility, provided the applicant secures all necessary city permits. "We think this additional right of way will create a wide enough berth for driver visibility so that we feel comfortable recommending approval for both variances on the typical condition that all applicable permits are obtained through the building department, engineering department, and any other applicable agency prior to construction," said Adam Panas, planning staff.

Joshua Fox, the project architect, said the replacement is necessary because the roundabout work will require moving the existing sign. "We're forced to move this sign," Fox said, adding the design team sought the safest placement given constraints from a redesigned driveway and parking stalls. Fox noted the structure is a solid base rather than a slender pole and said the lowest overhang dimension is roughly 69 inches to the bottom of a boxed section of the sign.

Board members questioned whether the lower clearance and the sign’s base could create a hazard for people exiting parked cars and whether the hatched area near the sign could become a pedestrian travel path. Staff answered that the hatched area is asphalt (painted) and not intended as a walking connection and reiterated the curb-to-sidewalk geometry shown in city drawings.

After discussion, a member moved to approve both variances on the condition that the applicant obtain all permits from the building and engineering departments; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. The board’s recorded affirmative votes were entered and the motion carried unanimously.

The approvals allow the sign replacement to proceed as the city advances design and right-of-way work for the roundabout. Construction and sign erection remain contingent on the applicant receiving required permits and complying with any conditions from the building and engineering departments.