Board approves sign-area variance for Havana Smoke Shop

The Green Board of Zoning Appeals on Nov. 21 granted a 12.6-square-foot sign-area variance to Havana Smoke Shop, permitting an already-installed 44.6-square-foot wall sign at 3939 Maslin Road, Unit 501, where 32 square feet is the maximum allowed.

Store owner Stephanie Maruth told the board she and her husband had the sign constructed for a prior location and stored it; when the neighboring tenant’s sign was removed she and the landlord agreed to install the existing sign before securing the permit. “When we had put our sign up ... the landlord had written to me and asked me about getting my permit for the sign, and I had completely, overlooked that part,” Maruth said.

Board members discussed how sign area is measured and whether the text layout (for example, placing “Havana” above “Smoke Shop”) could reduce the overall measurement. Maruth said the sign’s top-to-bottom spacing contributed to the larger area and that she had relied on the sign’s prior construction and mounting.

A board member moved to grant the 12.6-square-foot variance; another member seconded. The clerk conducted a roll call and the members present voted yes, approving the variance and allowing the sign to remain as installed. The board noted the landlord provided a letter of support and advised the owner to obtain the required sign permit going forward.

Hearing comments referenced GCO chapter 157, planning and development code for sign regulations (recorded in the hearing as a citation to section 157.1358, signs permitted in a nonresidential district).