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Warrick County planners vote to let schools and churches apply for electronic message boards, set 32-sq-ft cap in noncommercial districts
Summary
The commission voted to add a note to zoning Table A allowing public schools, churches and religious facilities to apply for SU-8 electronic message boards in any zoning district and approved a 32-square-foot maximum for such signs in noncommercial districts; staff will draft formal language and advertise for public notice.
The Warrick County Area Planning Commission moved on amendments to its sign and special-use rules, voting to permit public schools and churches to apply for SU-8 electronic message boards in any zoning district and to set a 32-square-foot maximum for churches and religious facilities in noncommercial districts.
Staff presented a historical spreadsheet of prior special-use approvals and explained that the ordinance currently allows only limited signage (25 sq ft in certain Ag zones), creating a mismatch between historical approvals and the written ordinance. "That's the only place that it's referenced other than the tables" (Staff member), staff said, urging the commission to reconcile practice and code.
Commission discussion focused on differences between commercial and noncommercial districts, safety/visibility concerns and federal protections for religious institutions. One commissioner cautioned that local denials of church applications have produced costly litigation elsewhere and stressed carefully worded language to avoid discrimination claims: "I just wanna make sure we word it right that we don't get a $9,000,000 $900,000,000 loss here," he said. (Committee member)
After debate, a motion was made and seconded to add a note to Table A stating that public schools, churches and religious facilities are permitted to apply for SU-8 electronic message boards in any zoning district. The motion passed on a voice vote. Separately, the commission approved a motion to allow churches and religious facilities at least 32 square feet of signage in noncommercial districts (Table C), while allowing properties in commercial districts to pursue the larger commercial allowances that apply there.
Why it matters: The changes formalize common practice—schools and churches that previously obtained message boards or retrofits will now have an explicit path to apply under the County’s SU-8 process, and the 32-sq-ft cap provides a clear limit for noncommercial settings while preserving larger commercial allowances where appropriate.
Next steps: Staff said they will prepare a formal ordinance amendment for advertisement and return the drafted language to the commission for final consideration.
