Planning commission approves reconstructed monument sign and limits bulk/lighting

The Prairie Village Planning Commission unanimously approved a reconstructed monument sign for the bank at 9400 Mission Road, subject to three staff conditions intended to keep the sign within local size and streetscape standards.

Staff planner Chris Bruce described PC‑26‑16 as a site plan to reconstruct the monument sign at the FNBO site and noted the sign face measures about 18.08 square feet—under the 20‑square‑foot allowance—but that the planning commission should confirm the combined height of the sign and base will remain under the 5‑foot limit. Bruce also recommended limiting the sign cabinet depth to 24 inches and adding a modest landscape area around the base to meet updated monument‑sign standards. “The overall area of the sign meets all of the height and area standards…This is coming in at just under 20 at 18.08,” Bruce said.

An applicant representative told the commission the existing sign and base are deteriorating and that the bank requested internal illumination. Paul Bridal, representing the bank, said the existing granite base was failing and the proposed design modernizes the sign; staff clarified that internally illuminated signs are allowed so long as they do not create off‑property glare. Commissioners asked about lighting standards and whether the existing ground‑mounted lights would be removed; the applicant said the ground lights would be removed and that the bank requested illumination as part of the new sign design.

The commission approved PC‑26‑16 with the three staff conditions: (1) ensure the combined height of sign plus base is under 5 feet; (2) limit sign depth to no more than 24 inches; and (3) require a landscape plan around the sign base (or an equivalent staff‑approved plan). Staff will verify the final dimensions at permitting.