Commission affirms Board of Adjustment, denies 25‑ft billboard variance

The commission reviewed a quasi‑judicial appeal by Scotty Outdoors LLC and Bondi Custom Builders seeking to overturn a Board of Adjustment denial of a height variance for an off‑premise billboard at 1710 North 25th Street.

Appellate counsel Franklin Lemond argued the applicant satisfied the five variance criteria and pointed to a prior 25‑ft permit issued to another sign company as precedent. Lemond asked the commission to "reverse" the Board of Adjustment decision and grant the requested 25‑ft height, asserting that the code's off‑premise sign provision allows a 25‑foot maximum.

Planning director Kevin Freeman recommended affirming the Board of Adjustment, saying the record showed the site had a permitted 10‑ft sign and lacked professional visibility, traffic or safety analyses. Freeman stated the board found "the five mandatory variance criteria were not met" and that the applicant's asserted hardship was based on commercial preference rather than a unique physical property condition.

After questions, public comment and rebuttal, the commission voted to affirm the Board of Adjustment's denial by roll call (Broderick, Zadofsky, Johnson, Mayor Hudson — all yes). The decision leaves the sign at the permitted 10‑ft height; the commission also instructed staff to note the code's confusing cross‑references between off‑premise and ground‑sign provisions as an item for future code cleanup.