By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Bowling Green Zoning Board of Appeals voted last week to prevent more sign pollution along Interstate 75.
QuikTrip, which is building a “travel center” on the east side of I-75, requested five sign variances for its site in the southeast corner of South Dunbridge Road and East Wooster Street, just to the west of the Holiday Inn Express and across the road from the Meijer gas station.
The zoning board rejected one of the five variances requested – involving a tall pylon sign, which is no longer allowed in the city’s zoning code update.
Following are the variances requested, and the board’s action on each:
- Rejected variance allowing a 229 square foot, 80 feet tall pylon sign. This type of sign is no longer allowed in the city’s zoning code, and this particular sign exceeds the 112 square foot maximum size allowed.
- Approved variance for a 108 square foot, 22 foot tall pylon sign directing truck traffic to the weight scales on site.
- Approved variance for a 184 square foot wall sign on the convenience store on site, which would exceed the 112 square foot maximum size allowed.
- Approved a 14 square foot wayfinding sign, which would exceed the maximum size of 3 square feet and maximum height of 3 feet.
- Approved a 38 square foot, 6-foot 8-inch high monument sign, two canopy signs of 20 square feet each, two wall signs of 20 square feet each, which are in compliance with the city’s sign regulations. However, all the signs in total would exceed the maximum number of three signs allowed per business, by six signs, and would exceed the 336 square foot maximum total sum of all signs by 317 square feet.
A representative of QuikTrip, Wes Plyer, explained to the zoning board the reason for the sign requests. The company, he said, “wants to make sure it’s not at a competitive disadvantage” with other gas stations along I-75 in Bowling Green – specifically Speedway – that have tall pylon signs previously allowed in the zoning code.
Plyer also said the signs provide “customer safety” at such a large truck stop site like QuikTrip. The signs meet the company’s national design standards and offer “brand identity” for the location, he added.
While zoning board members voiced support for “wayfinding” signs that make such sites easier to navigate, they agreed there need to be limits.
“Is this a ‘whose sign is bigger’ thing?” zoning board member Jerry Anderson asked.
“Bowling Green has wrestled with this as long as I’ve been around here,” board member Rod Noble said.
In June, the Zoning Board of Appeals granted other variances to QuikTrip.
The first request was to allow construction of an auto fuel canopy and a diesel fuel canopy that would exceed the 18-foot maximum height permitted.
The second request was to allow construction of a 79 foot by 113 foot travel center, which would exceed the 60 foot maximum front yard setback by 105 feet along East Wooster Street and by 88 feet from South Dunbridge Road.
A representative of QuikTrip told the zoning board that the layout would allow the business to have separate locations and entrances for the fueling stations for semi-trucks and automobiles.
