Board approves Arlington Properties’ four-sign variance at 2015 20th Place South

The Homewood Board of Zoning Adjustments voted to approve a variance request from Arlington Properties allowing four wall signs at 2015 20th Place South, the applicant said, to mark a planned corporate headquarters move.

Mike Brown, representing Arlington Properties, told the board the company plans to relocate its corporate offices to the building and expects to house about 100 local employees there while accommodating up to 800 additional employees who will travel in and out as business requires. “Arlington is asking this board to have certain signage showing its presence in the city,” Brown said, arguing the lot’s orientation along Highway 280 and Red Mountain Expressway severely limits ground‑level visibility.

Brown and company representatives said the parcel is uniquely situated at the corridor gateway into Homewood and that trees and traffic speed limit visibility from the ground. Owner Joe Sander confirmed the building is roughly 122,000 square feet and said Arlington and Truist are the two largest tenants; Sander said he would limit exterior signage rights to major tenants and does not anticipate additional exterior signs beyond those proposed.

Jamie Justice, a broker with Colliers who worked on the relocation, said the move would backfill roughly 30,000 square feet vacated by Wells Fargo Advisors and provide space for 80–100 employees. “Granting this variance … backfills 30,000 square feet of office space that is coming available,” Justice said, noting local economic benefits.

Board members asked whether proposed upper‑floor signs would be internally lit and whether Truist, the anchor tenant, had approved Arlington’s request. Staff clarified internally illuminated upper‑floor signs are permitted in the zoning area and that Truist had granted the signage rights; the owner confirmed consent. The board also discussed limiting future exterior signage and whether additional tenants could later seek exterior signage rights.

A board member moved to approve case BZA260028; after a second, the board took roll‑call votes. Mister Young, Miss Hand, Mister Johnson, Mister Gere and Mister Nieves all voted yes, and the chair declared the variance approved. The chair reminded the applicant the variance lapses if no construction is undertaken within one year and that a building permit must be pulled before installation.

The applicant was granted the variance with the one‑year lapse provision; staff direction was limited to standard permit and resurvey procedures as required by code.