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Commission denies Morgan Stanley name on Woodward monument sign; calls for ordinance review
Summary
The commission denied a tenant‑name sign at 4701–4705 Woodward after the planning commission found the ordinance does not permit tenant names on the existing monument; commissioners recommended a sign‑code review rather than ad hoc exceptions.
The Bloomfield Hills City Commission denied an appeal to add a tenant name to an existing monument sign at 4701–4705 Woodward Avenue and urged staff to include sign‑code revisions in a forthcoming ordinance review.
Eric Peach, the planning consultant for Gles Webster, told commissioners the sign structure complies with height and area limits but added that "Morgan Stanley as a tenant name is not permissible" under the current sign code. Maryanne Deers of Metro Signs and Lighting, representing the tenant and property owner, said the tenant is the primary occupant and "they would love to have this added to the existing sign structure."
Commissioners highlighted the need to address the broader ordinance rather than grant a one‑off exception. One commissioner observed that recent precedents allowed building renaming rather than single exceptions and urged a coordinated code update. The planning commission had recommended denial earlier in the meeting.
Outcome: The commission voted to deny the appeal by motion and directed staff to place sign‑ordinance revisions on a future work list for consideration alongside other zoning changes.
