Owner of Southern Brew to install dimmer after planning commission flags LED strip lights

The City of Lake Jackson planning commission on an undated meeting deferred a decision on a special-permit request for LED strip lighting at Southern Brew Coffee Drive Thru, 108 West State Highway 332, asking the owner to install a dimmer and return the item for further review.

Owner Lance Mann told the commission he had met city staff and engineers previously and said the strip lights were part of the brand. "We weren't trying to avoid any sort of code," Mann said, adding that he would install a dimmer as soon as it can be sourced. Planning staff explained the relevant ordinance historically addressed neon strip lighting and does not explicitly account for modern LED strip fixtures, creating a gap in how the rule is applied.

Commissioners and members of the public voiced safety concerns after reports of visibility problems during foggy nights; one commissioner said calls came from older drivers worried the lights carried into the roadway. Staff suggested a measured response: allow the owner to test a dimmer and have the planning commission observe whether reduced output resolves the issue before taking enforcement action. The Chair said the commission would "push this till you get the dimmer and see what it looks like" and that the item would be revisited at the next meeting.

The commission did not adopt an ordinance change at this meeting. Staff noted possible future work to update the sign ordinance to address LED photometric criteria and suggested a photometric study could be requested if concerns persist.