Landmarks Commission approves larger monument sign, will recommend variance to Planning & Zoning

The Canal Winchester Landmarks Commission on May 27 approved an application to install a monument sign at 10 West Oak Street and agreed to recommend a variance to the Planning and Zoning Commission to exceed the 10-square-foot maximum sign face.

The applicant proposed a single-sided monument sign with a 9-foot-wide by 2.5-foot-tall sign face on a stone base for a total height of 4 feet, with LED uplighting and extruded aluminum lettering. Staff told the commission that, because of the site scale and the five-story building on the property, staff recommended exploring a larger face even though the zoning code limits sign faces to 10 square feet per face.

A DayNight Sign Company representative said the design was refined to lower the height and use aluminum letters and a stone base intended to match a patio addition. “We did go with the external illumination as well that’s consistent with the historic district,” the representative said. Commissioners asked for coordination so the stone on the sign base matches the sandstone veneer being used on the patio. The applicant agreed to match the patio stone.

Commission member Pete Lynch moved to approve CA25-023 with a recommendation for a variance to increase the sign face and a condition that the sign base stone match the patio. The motion passed on roll call with all members voting in favor.

Because the sign would exceed the zoning face-size limit, the commission’s approval includes recommending a variance to Planning and Zoning; final permitting will require Planning and Zoning review and any required building permits.

The commission also discussed landscaping at the sign base and sightlines; staff and the applicant will coordinate final placement and material samples before sign fabrication.