The Board of Zoning Appeals is meeting 09/18/2023 at 7PM.
They will take up two variance requests related to signage for the ThedaCare/Encircle Campus on Capitol Drive.
ThedaCare is wanting to install a very large sign with an electronic signboard element that will be visible from Highway 41.
The sign they are proposing is 592 square feet in size but city code limits signs along Highway 41 to no more than 200 square feet. So, they need a variance for that.
Additionally, within the larger sign, ThedaCare wants to include an electronic message board that is 280 square feet, but city code limits electronic message boards to no more than 48 square feet.
In 2015, ThedaCare was granted a variance to install 5 ground signs on this parcel with a cumulative size of 722.08 square feet as well as to place two ground signs on the same frontage. If they are allowed to move forward with installing this new proposed sign, they would demolish the two ground signs currently along Highway 41.
When asked to describe the unique lot conditions necessitating this need for this variance, ThedaCare pointed to the Highway 41 expansion project which will “cause the existing signs to be very close to the expanded highway, potentially impacting the feasibility of the construction.” The existing signs, if left in place, would be non-compliant in the future.
When asked to describe the hardship that would be experienced if the new variance was not granted, ThedaCare stated that the campus would have outdated/incorrect branding, visitors would be confused about where they were supposed to go for care, and the Highway 41 expansion project could be impeded.
[This sounds like a hard sell to me. Back in October of 2021, the Orthopedic and Sports Institute of the Fox Valley wanted to install a 694 square foot electronic sign that was visible from Highway 41. The Board of Zoning Appeals denied their request because OSI was not the only business along 41 that was interested in advertising their presence to drivers on the highway and the board did not want to set a precedent. Additionally, they had a difficult time figuring out what kind of unique characteristic of the land and what kind of hardship existed that would warrant granting a variance.
I could also see the fact that a variance for signage was previously granted causing the board to be hesitant to grant another signage related variance due to concerns about how those variances may interact with each other and unforeseen issues that might result from them.]
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1119177&GUID=6148178E-4853-407B-A060-65F25A996E03
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