Board of Zoning Appeals approves Grocery Outlet window‑signage variance at 4766 Ridge Road

The Board of Zoning Appeals voted Jan. 16 to approve a variance allowing additional window signage at 4766 Ridge Road, the Grocery Outlet location. The motion passed on a roll call with Earl Bloom, Nick Marus and Craig Farcus recorded as voting yes.

Board members discussed whether the new signage is intended to obscure products on display behind the store windows. A Grocery Outlet representative told the board that customers sometimes place products in front of the windows and that the store’s graphics are used to cover those items. The representative said the graphics are translucent and “when the lights are on inside the store you still can see through them.”

Members also questioned how much additional window coverage the request would add. A staff speaker referenced an increase “about 240 square foot,” while the applicant said the drawings the company submitted showed about 84 square feet of coverage. Board members noted that, by either figure, the proposed signage would exceed the code limit and require a variance.

After brief discussion, a member moved to approve the variance and a second was recorded. The roll‑call vote was recorded in favor from Bloom, Marus and Farcus, and the board approved the request.

The meeting record does not specify the exact motion wording beyond approving the variance request. The board then moved on to its next agenda item and adjourned at the end of the session.