Business owner asks New Port Richey council for rehearing after sign denial

Nathan Pollock, who identified himself as a business owner at 6153 Massachusetts Avenue, asked the New Port Richey City Council to grant him a new hearing after the council denied his request for a freestanding sign in 2021. Pollock said he later saw a Keiser University freestanding sign and a Hacienda sign approved after his denial and argued the process had been mishandled.

"I was not given a proper hearing," Pollock told the council, and asked that "one of the members on council who's seen enough evidence" make a motion for a rehearing so he could present the documentation he said supports his case. He said he had not appealed within 30 days because he believed he had not received a fair process.

Council members acknowledged the concern and discussed options. One council member suggested revisiting the code and considering whether the sign could be treated as "grandfathered" while county work on the neighboring side of the road is completed. Another said the city attorney had previously opined that due process was provided at the original hearing but that the council could bring the issue back before the body before the stay period elapsed. City staff noted Mr. Pollock had been informed about a CRA program that could cover 50% of replacement costs but had not submitted the application.

The council did not take an immediate vote on a rehearing. One member said they would circulate the city attorney's written opinion to council members and could move for a rehearing at the next meeting if members agreed after reviewing that material.