Board approves parking and signage variances for Edgewood Farm development; developer promises coordinated sign program

The Board of Adjustments on April 6 approved a package of variances for the Edgewood Farm development at 1218 Lexington Road that will allow reduced parking for a home‑improvement anchor store and expanded flexibility for wall and freestanding signage across the multi‑parcel project.

Staff explained the development plan approved by the planning commission shows two large anchor boxes (a grocery store and a home‑improvement store) plus outlots along a new street network (Edgewood Road) and two roundabouts. "The parking request is to deviate the 358 spaces down to 333" for the home‑improvement lot once the property is platted, staff said, noting the development currently meets parking requirements on the unplatted combined lot but would be short once lots are split.

The developer also asked for changes to the town’s wall‑sign rule (one square foot of signage per linear foot of building, with a 300‑sq‑ft cap) to accommodate the length and scale of the anchor facades. Theo Stone, director of development for the master developer (identified in the record as Versailles LLC), said the current formula treats attached multi‑tenant facades as single long buildings and leaves smaller tenants without practical signage. Stone said the requested ratio of 1.5 square feet per linear foot is intended to address visual scale and tenant access to directional signage; he added the developer plans a coordinated program of monument and pylon signs and covenants to ensure consistent materials and design. "We're trying to bring development to Versailles with national tenants that have a branded look," Stone said.

Staff also described a request to allow freestanding signs to be placed closer to the property line—matching monument sign setbacks—to give flexibility for future tenants. Stone and staff said the intended build will emphasize monument signs and two larger shopping‑center pylons at the main entrances; the developer committed that the monument and pylon signs will be capped at the sizes shown in the development plan if the wall‑sign variance is granted.

Board members discussed the risk of setting precedents but noted past exceptions and the unusual scale of the proposed buildings. One board member observed that the town’s industry standard for home‑improvement parking is older and more stringent than for many other retailers; staff said communities increasingly move to minimum or maximum parking standards to avoid unnecessary paving.

A motion to approve the three variances—parking, increased wall signage allowance, and reduced freestanding‑sign setback—passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The vote included the developer's commitment to a sign program and the staff finding that the unique size and scale of the buildings justified the relief.

The variances allow the developer to proceed with platting and tenant lease negotiations; staff and the developer said higher‑quality materials, HOA covenants and a uniform signage program will be used to manage aesthetics in lieu of strict per‑suite sign caps.