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Planning commission approves variance for sign at 3574 Woodward
Summary
The Royal Oak City Planning Commission approved a variance allowing a sign on a parapet at 3574 Woodward after finding the proposed sign met wall-sign size rules despite extending above the roofline; the decision was made by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
The Royal Oak City Planning Commission on Tuesday approved a variance for a sign at 3574 Woodward that the city building division had initially treated as a prohibited roof sign. Joseph Murphy, the city’s director of planning, told commissioners the building division’s interpretation was based on the sign ordinance definition that describes a roof sign as one “erected upon or above a roof or a parapet wall of a building.”
The petitioner, Aaron Bellin of AFB Investments, said the proposed sign is in scale with the building and consistent with adjacent properties. “We feel the sign is appropriate in scale and size to the building,” Bellin said, adding the façade will be renovated with white aluminum vertical rib panels to create a simpler, modern look. Commissioner Jim Allison moved to approve the variance, noting the building sits lower than neighboring structures and the sign does not project higher than the next-door building; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Commission discussion focused on statutory construction: the chair argued the ordinance’s definitions for wall sign and building facade mean the sign should be treated as a wall sign and that reading a separate roof line into the code is improper. Commissioners noted the sign meets the ordinance’s size and area criteria for wall signs. The petitioner will proceed with building-front renovations and the sign as approved by the commission.
