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Applicant seeks taller freestanding sign on Central Avenue; board raises safety and quorum concerns, defers final vote
Summary
A restaurant operator asked the board for a variance to install a 15‑foot post-and-panel sign where 5 feet is normally allowed, citing sight-line and marketing needs supported by a traffic consultant; the board heard neighborhood support and technical analysis but deferred a final decision because the board was not fully staffed.
An application to install a 15‑foot freestanding sign on Central Avenue drew a technical presentation and mixed reactions from the zoning board Tuesday.
Polar Engineering and a client representing a restaurant tenant presented a traffic-safety memo and nighttime renderings, arguing that a higher post-and-panel sign improves sight lines for motorists entering and exiting the site and would not impair traffic operations on Central Avenue. The applicant also submitted a letter that combined endorsements from two neighborhood associations and said the sign would be visually integrated with a brick base and landscaping.
The applicant’s traffic consultant concluded the proposed post-and-panel sign would meet the required setback and would not interfere with intersection sight lines. The applicant said the sign will use halo/backlighting designed to limit glare.
Board members debated whether a lower 5‑foot sign would be safer or more vulnerable to pedestrian interference and vandalism; one member said a low sign could be "a magnet" for tampering and that the higher sign keeps elements out of reach. Another member reiterated concerns about making a final decision without the entire appointed board present.
A motion to approve the variance and issue a negative declaration was made, but another board member subsequently moved to table the matter until the board was at full membership; the item was deferred pending a future hearing.
What’s next: The applicant will be notified when a full board is available. Staff recorded the technical memos and renderings in the file for the next consideration.
