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Hearing officer hears request to allow 501‑sq‑ft wall sign for new warehouse near Selmon Expressway
Summary
Applicant representatives told the hearing officer that highway geometry, vegetation and building scale make the code‑allowed 200‑sq‑ft sign illegible from the Selmon Expressway and requested a 301‑sq‑ft increase (to 501 sq ft). County staff presented the sign standard from the Land Development Code.
Sam Ball, a development‑services planner, told the hearing officer that LDC Section 703.082 limits permanent north‑elevation wall signs to 200 square feet and that the present application seeks a 501‑square‑foot wall sign — a 301‑square‑foot increase. Ball presented the staff findings and left the record open for questions.
David Smith, director of development and zoning for Stearns Wheeler, represented the applicant. Smith said the site’s visibility challenges stem from the elevated and curved Selmon Expressway, off‑site vegetation near Delaney Creek, wetlands, and an unusual right‑of‑way geometry. He said the proposed building has roughly a 900‑foot facade on the north side and that “a 200‑square‑foot sign essentially becomes illegible” at typical approach distances, while a 500‑square‑foot sign would be readable from the exit ramp.
Smith showed aerial views and approach graphics comparing a 200‑sq‑ft sign and a 500‑sq‑ft sign, and argued that the larger sign would not adversely affect nearby residential properties because the nearest residence is about 1,000 feet northwest and views are obstructed by vegetation. He asked the hearing officer to approve the variance to allow clear identification of the business and to enhance public safety.
No members of the public spoke for or against this application during the hearing. Development services had no further questions after Smith’s presentation; the applicant declined rebuttal.
The hearing officer did not announce a decision. He will issue a written ruling within 15 working days.
