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Planning commission approves Liquidity Ale Works LED displays with daily‑change, dimming and style limits
Summary
After prolonged discussion about whether LED screens fit Mount Airy's historic downtown code, the commission approved Liquidity Ale Works' plan for two LED displays with limits — a single automated daily change, dimming at night, and an overall restrained, mostly black‑and‑white appearance.
The Mount Airy Planning Commission approved a conditional sign permit for Liquidity Ale Works at 8 North Main Street after commissioners wrestled with whether the proposed LED screens qualify as a prohibited "projected image" under current town code and how the displays would fit the downtown historic design guidelines.
John, the town planning staff member, described the application and told the commission the code language is ambiguous for modern LED technology: "It's really tough for me to be objective and say yes or no... the code is sort of ambiguous in saying that maybe it's not allowed." Commissioners repeatedly flagged the code as outdated for current display technologies.
Owner Billy Dvers said the two commercial LED displays would not show video or continuous motion, would change content just once per day (usually after midnight) and would dim automatically at night to avoid distracting drivers. "They will not have moving pictures or anything like that. They will not scroll while people are driving by," Dvers said.
Commissioners pressed on safety, aesthetics and enforceability: whether the displays would distract drivers at the nearby Prospect Street intersection, how a future tenant would be regulated, and whether the planning commission could grant a variation for a sign type otherwise not contemplated by code. Town attorney Tom noted that the commission can grant variations only for size or number of signs and not for types that code explicitly prohibits, which framed the legal discussion.
After discussion, the commission approved the application with conditions including: the display must present a static image that changes no more than once per day, the units must dim to a night setting, and the signage should adhere to the modest black‑and‑white branding presented (with limited exceptions for special events). The vote carried on a motion with the stated conditions.
Next steps: staff will document the conditions and proceed with permitting and a final on‑site inspection to ensure the installed displays match the approved static profile.
