Assistant City Planner Justin Taylor

WARSAW — Graycraft Signs, Warsaw, presented two variance requests at the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals meeting held Monday, Nov. 27.

Graycraft Signs requested a variance to permit two internally illuminated monument signs within an R-1 zoning district at Warsaw Community High School, 1 Tiger Lane, Warsaw. The proposed sign would be in the same location as the existing sign along SR 15.

Although taller than the existing sign, the display area is comparable in size. The other proposed sign would be located in the interior of the school campus near the school offices. The proposed signs would not exceed what is currently permitted under the existing variance at the high school. The new signs would feature a full color LED messaging board.

“I’m concerned about the brightness,” said board member Dan Smith.

Scott Gray from Graycraft Signs informed board members that the existing sign is a Daktronics sign while the proposed sign is a Watchfire sign. Gray explained that the brightness level will be far more controllable on the Watchfire sign.

“It has a self-dimming eye,” Gray said, “At night it only uses about seven percent of its power.”

“The Daktronic sign does not have an eye that dims it down at night,” said Gray, “So it had the same amount of brightness at all times.”

Board members asked if the sign could be set up with a timer so that it could be shut off at a designated time, such as 11 p.m.

Jim LeMasters was in attendance to represent Warsaw Community Schools. LeMasters assured board members that the school would work with the Zoning Board. LeMasters said if the brightness of the sign becomes an issue, they would be agreeable to turning the sign off at night.

“We want to be good neighbors. We’ll work with you,” said LeMasters.

Assistant City Planner Justin Taylor stated that the Planning Department feels that this case could be viewed favorably.

Board members gave their approval for the variance request.

Graycraft Signs also requested a variance to permit a 32 sq. ft. internally illuminated monument sign within an R-1 zoning district at Lincoln Elementary School in Warsaw. Typically, signs of this size and type are not permitted in R-1 districts; however, requests are often granted for institutional use. The LED messaging board will automatically adjust its brightness level based on the current amount of ambient light, which will reduce the potential for excessive light pollution flooding adjacent properties.

“It’s a Watchfire sign with a self-dimmer just like the one we’re proposing for the high school so after dark it will only use seven percent of its power,” said Gray.

This request was approved by board members.

Biggs Indiana Properties, LLC, has requested a variance in the Belle Augusta housing development community, located on North CR 225E, Warsaw, to permit a 5’ side yard setback instead of the current 7’ setback. This variance will apply to all side yard setbacks in the remaining lots of this development, except for corner lots and lots affected by easements. Taylor stated that this would not be injurious to public health or safety in creating obstructions to sight lines, utilities or drainage systems and that the request is in line with the intention of the comprehensive plan to create a medium density residential land use. After a brief discussion, this request was approved.

Other News:

• The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 19.