Board approves size and height variances for directional signs at new Green Local Schools campuses

The City of Green Board of Zoning Appeals on July 17 approved multiple variances allowing larger directional signage for new Green Local Schools campuses, concluding the requested sizes are necessary for wayfinding on the expanded sites.

Melinda Scalfaro, an architect with Soul Harris Day Architecture, said the proposed campuses require larger signs so parents, staff, visitors and emergency responders can navigate multiple drives, bus access and drop-off areas. "The size that's in the current zoning code is not practical for the large campus," Scalfaro told the board, adding that smaller sign panels would render text too small to read at typical driving speeds.

Scalfaro described two related variance requests: one for two directional signs at the new elementary school on Graybill Road (seeking a 1-foot-6-inch height variance to allow 4-foot-6-inch signs and a 14.66-square-foot total-size variance to permit 18.66-square-foot signs) and a second for three directional signs at the new middle school on Steese Road with the same height and size variances. She emphasized the signs are functional, unlit directional markers placed and set back to avoid right-of-way placement.

Residents who live near the Steese Road site raised questions about sightlines, traffic and the clarity of the posted site map. Lee Bogarty (1627 Steese) said larger signs would help, especially on football nights, but asked whether a sign might block his view when exiting his driveway: "I totally agree that the signs need to be a little bit bigger, especially on football nights... I wanna be able to see the street well," he said. Scalfaro and project representatives said the signs would be set back behind the sidewalk so they should not obstruct views and noted speed bumps on Bulldog Boulevard will be restored.

Richard Stratton (1670 Steese Road) said an online map he consulted was cut off and asked why larger signs were necessary compared with existing, smaller signs; Scalfaro replied that the previous signs (about 2-by-2 feet) contained limited information and would be unreadable for the larger campus. She also reiterated the signs will not be lit.

A board member asked how many students the middle school will accommodate; Scalfaro estimated "about 800." After discussion, a board member moved to grant the requested height and size variances for both the Graybill and Steese Road sites; the motion was seconded and passed by the members present (recorded as 3–0). The board approved both sets of variances, allowing the district to install the larger directional signage.

The variances were filed by Soul Harris Day Architecture on behalf of Green Local Schools and referenced GCO part 12 (planning and zoning, 157.1358(c)) on the meeting record. Residents’ concerns about sightlines and map clarity were addressed on the record; no additional conditions were recorded.