Planning board rejects request to raise digital billboard on South U.S. 1 to 35 feet

The Fort Pierce Planning and Zoning Board denied a variance that would have raised a V-shaped ground sign at 550 South U.S. Highway 1 from 25 feet to 35 feet and allowed a V-shaped digital face.

Carrie Driver, senior planner for the City of Fort Pierce, reviewed the permit history and the code citations relevant to sign height in C-3 general commercial zoning. She told the board staff "cannot confirm that [the] special conditions and circumstances exist" required for a variance and concluded, "The variance criterias have not been met by the application. Planning department does not recommend approval." (Transcript testimony.)

Board members noted the 25-foot limit was adopted to reduce visual clutter along U.S. 1 — a key corridor — and observed that the applicant had previously constructed the sign to the 25-foot maximum. One board member suggested the appropriate remedy for a broader change would be asking the county commission to revisit the sign ordinance rather than granting a variance.

John Ackley, the property owner identified in staff materials, addressed the board and acknowledged the difficulty of meeting the variance checklist; he said he planned to pursue the issue with the county commission after the board’s decision. A staff speaker also emphasized that the corridor is the "face of the community" and that there appeared to be no legal hardship because the applicant initially built to 25 feet.

Following deliberation, Mr. Drummond moved to deny the variance and Mr. Chris seconded. The board approved the motion on roll call, finding the application did not satisfy variance criteria under Chapter 125 and the sign regulations in Chapter 117.

The applicant may pursue alternatives outside the variance process (county-level code change or other administrative remedies). The board’s denial preserves the current 25-foot height restriction along that stretch of U.S. 1.