UPDATE: Even though the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting will be held November 21, a quorum is not expected, so the Elks sign topic will be taken up at a special meeting Wednesday, November 28 at 4:30 p.m.
COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Two variance requests concerning the new sign at the Coldwater Elks Lodge are scheduled to come before the Coldwater Zoning Board of Appeals during a 4:30 p.m. public hearing Wednesday afternoon.
The Elks are asking for a six square foot dimensional area variance to maintain 38 square feet of freestanding signage as well as a variance from the City’s Zoning Code to maintain the freestanding sign at a height of 11 feet, nine inches.
The zoning code limits freestanding signage square footage to 32 square feet. Freestanding signs in the city can be no higher than six feet.
The Coldwater Historic District Commission approved a request from the Elks in October of 2017 to install the new electronic sign.
But the city’s Neighborhood Services Department is having some issues with the variances and they are recommending they not be granted. They feel the approval “is not significantly justified by geographic particularities or an otherwise faithful attempt at compliance.”
In his report for the Z.B.A., City Planner Dean Walrack says the metal portion of the sign is dimensionally permissible as a wall sign or as the sole freestanding sign if the Electronic Message Center were to be removed. It’s further recommended to the Z.B.A. that the Freestanding Signage be built to the design approved by the Historic District Commission and as submitted to Neighborhood Services on the Sign Permit issued last year.
The Board of Directors for the Elks say the signage is not detrimental to adjacent properties nor does it impair the intent of the zoning code or the public interest. They also point out their activities are not in competition with any other activity or business and that the lighting and simple messages do not disrupt drivers.
