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Council approves Dutch Bros–Les Schwab sign-code appeal after flag test, schedules I‑5 sign-code workshop
Summary
The council granted an appeal allowing a new pylon sign at 251 NE Agnes Ave to rise to 100 feet after the applicant’s flag test and council discussion about mature vegetation and legacy freeway signs; members also scheduled a workshop to study an I‑5 overlay.
The Grants Pass City Council voted to approve an appeal to the municipal sign code that will allow a 100‑foot pylon sign for a proposed Dutch Bros and Les Schwab location at 251 Northeast Agnes Avenue. The council took testimony from staff, the applicant and nearby businesses before approving the appeal in a recorded vote.
Senior planner Laurie Milton told the council the municipal sign code generally allows one freestanding sign per street frontage with a 25‑foot maximum and 100 square feet per side, and that the applicant amended its request to 100 feet tall with about 350 square feet per side. Milton said the applicant conducted a paid flag test that informed the revised request. “These results and the amended request were scheduled to be considered at tonight’s public hearing,” Milton said in her staff introduction. Applicant representative Nick Johnson said the flag test showed an 80‑foot sign would be blocked by trees and that 100 feet is the minimum to clear vegetation and be visible from both freeway directions. “A 100 feet was what we found to be the minimum height to be able to just clear the trees,” Johnson said.
Councilors who supported the appeal cited the site’s freeway orientation, topography and mature tree canopy as unique physical circumstances; one said legacy freeway‑overlay signs in the corridor set a precedent for taller signage. Councilor Victoria summarized that the three criteria set in the municipal code—unique physical circumstances, minimum increase necessary, and not being a substantial deviation from the code’s intent—were reasonably met based on the record. Councilor Seth moved to approve the appeal and the motion carried after a second. The council also noted it will address a possible I‑5 sign‑code overlay in a future workshop to ensure consistent rules for that corridor.
The council’s formal action was recorded in the meeting and the appeal passed. The council did not take additional administrative actions at the meeting other than announcing the workshop timeline.
