Commission schedules hearing on Buc‑ee’s sign overlay after presentation of unusually large signage requests

The Murfreesboro Planning Commission voted May 20 to schedule a public hearing on June 3 for a plan sign overlay application from Bucky's Limited (Buc‑ee’s) for a roughly 30.17‑acre site at 3355 Elam Road.

Staff described a package of nonstandard sign requests the applicant seeks: three attached building signs of about 575 square feet each, a single ground sign proposed at about 125 feet tall with a 750‑square‑foot face, a roof‑applied painted sign of roughly 5,674 square feet intended for aerial visibility only, canopy signage and larger temporary elements including streamers and inflatables. The presentation noted that current sign rules would not permit the larger elements and that comparable tall or large signs in the city are nonconforming legacy structures.

Commissioners asked about visibility and safety from the interstate and whether the oversized ground sign was necessary for safe ingress/egress. Staff said the applicant performed a balloon (visibility) test to determine safe sightlines to the interstate exits; the applicant’s representative was available to answer technical questions at the hearing.

What’s next: The public hearing set for June 3 will allow residents and stakeholders to comment on the proposed plan sign overlay and the commission to consider the sign standards requested by the applicant.