Sellersburg board approves CareFirst Rehab illuminated facade sign with conditions

The Town of Sellersburg Board of Zoning Appeals on June 15 approved a development standards variance allowing CareFirst Rehab LLC to install an illuminated facade sign larger than limits in the Sellersburg Unified Development Ordinance for a new office at 7701 Highway 311.

Russell Pores, who identified himself as owner of CareFirst Rehab LLC, told the board the sign is intended to provide visibility for the business and to identify services. “We're excited to have this new office in the address that you just mentioned,” Pores said, adding the proposed design and rendering were included in the meeting packet. He also told the board his company currently cares for almost 200 patients.

Staff presented the petition (2026-05-DV-06), summarizing findings of fact under the Sellersburg UDO and cited Indiana statutory guidance. Staff noted the proposed illuminated channel-letter logo and service lettering would exceed the UDO's permitted sign area and quantity for the Town Center zone but described the sign as professionally integrated into the building facade, permanently mounted, and LED-illuminated. Staff issued a neutral recommendation, stating that criteria one (public welfare) and two (effect on adjacent property) appeared satisfied and that criterion three (practical difficulty) depended on the board's judgment about whether the building's unusually large facade justified additional sign area.

Board members questioned zoning allowances, whether an external/pylon or monument sign would be part of the project (petitioner: no; signage will be on the building facade), and whether other tenants in the multi-unit building would need separate variances for illuminated signs (staff: yes). Board discussion centered on balancing business visibility with the town's sign standards; several members said they were more inclined to approve the primary, illuminated main sign but were hesitant about approving additional illuminated service lettering for multiple services.

After considering the staff's findings and oral remarks, the board voted to approve the variance with conditions. The conditions recorded by staff and accepted by the board limit approval to the sign design and dimensions submitted in the application materials, require the sign installer to obtain all required permits prior to installation, and require all electrical components to comply with applicable building and electrical codes; substantial modifications to the approved design will require further review by the town.

The board recorded agreement on the findings (present members indicated "agree" for the three required criteria). The vote on the motion to grant the variance passed with four yes votes from the members present and one member absent. The petitioner was advised that future tenants seeking illuminated signage would need to pursue their own approvals.

The next procedural step is implementation of the conditions: obtaining permits and completing electrical inspections. The board closed the item and proceeded to collect signatures to journal the meeting record.