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Oklahoma County Board of Adjustment approves changeable-message sign for Waterlue Road Church of Christ
Summary
The Oklahoma County Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a variance allowing the Waterlue Road Church of Christ to relocate a pole-mounted, changeable-message lit sign after the Oklahoma Department of Transportation acquired the church's original sign for right-of-way. The board required a subsequent sign permit review by staff.
The Oklahoma County Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to approve a variance that will let the Waterlue Road Church of Christ install a pole-mounted, changeable-message lit sign after the county’s transportation agency acquired the church’s previous sign for right-of-way.
Staff told the board the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) purchased the church’s original sign when acquiring roadway adjacent to Waterlue Road near Sooner Road, and the congregation now needs to relocate the sign. Staff described the proposed replacement as a pole sign with intermittently changing messages similar to school message boards and said that under county rules a lit, message-changing sign requires board approval.
"It's not too big of a concern because just the amount of commercial activity that's occurring there in the area," a staff member said, noting nearby development including an urgent care, a dentist office and national retailers. Staff also said no phone calls or letters of protest had been received on the application.
Board members asked about driver distraction and ordinance limits on changing-message signs; staff replied the regulation is intended to limit distraction and to preserve a rural character in much of the county but that the proposed sign is consistent with other commercial signage in the immediate area. Staff emphasized that even with the variance, the church must submit a formal sign-permit application so staff can verify the final size, height and other technical permit conditions before installation.
A motion to approve the variance passed on a roll-call vote: Miss Jennifer Cody, Mr. Randy Goodman and Mr. Cooper Robinson each voted yes.
The board’s approval removes the zoning-barrier to the church replacing its sign but does not authorize installation; the church must complete the county sign-permit review and comply with any permit conditions before construction.
