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Board approves Las Casas Baptist Church's illuminated sign variance
Summary
The board granted a variance allowing an internally illuminated sign with 60% changeable copy at Las Casas Baptist Church (4750 E. Jefferson Pike), after staff found the request met variance criteria and the church pledged to avoid distracting graphics and excessive brightness.
Rutherford County planning staff presented a request from Las Casas Baptist Church to replace its existing sign face with an internally illuminated, changeable copy electronic display that would increase changeable copy from the code‑allowed 25% (10 sq ft on a 40‑sq‑ft sign) to 24 sq ft (60% of the sign). Staff told the board the application (BZA 20267) met variance criteria; the church previously received a height variance in 2004 and proposed no change to sign height or placement.
Kenneth Sumey, pastor of Las Casas Baptist Church (speaker 19), said the sign will include scrolling letters and occasional graphics but “nothing that's overly distracting” at the busy East Jefferson Pike intersection. A board member asked about the zoning resolution's 25% changeable limit and whether that standard should be revisited; staff said the limit dates from a 2009 revision modeled on other jurisdictions but the board could request a broader policy review.
No public objections were reported. A motion to approve the variance passed by roll call; staff noted that if a sign used manual changeable copy (not electronic), the ordinance allows up to 50% changeable copy.
The approval permits the church to modernize the face of its sign subject to the usual permitting process and any applicable sign‑code conditions; the board recorded a unanimous vote in favor.
