×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Zoning Board Rejects Signage at Elm Grove Home

Photo by Alex Meyer Wheeling Board of Zoning Appeals members, from left to right, Jason Smith, Steve Johnston and Martin Maness at Thursday’s meeting.

The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals turned down a request to allow large commercial signs to remain on a home in Elm Grove on Thursday.

Members of the board voted 2-1 to deny a request for variances to allow two signs, one that is 96 square feet, at a single-family home on Grant Avenue. Board members Jason Smith and Martin Maness voted to deny, with Steve Johnston voting against the motion.

Following the meeting, Tom Connelly, Wheeling’s assistant director of economic and community development, said Johnston had approached him and clarified that he also meant to vote to deny, but the phrasing of the motion was confusing, and that the vote count would likely be corrected at a future meeting.

The home’s owner, Nate Harler, said he put up the signs on his property without knowing the city had an ordinance restricting commercial signage.

The 96-square-foot sign lies on a fence at the back of the property that overlooks Park View Road, 500 feet from the Park View Professional Center, Harler said.

“It’s not visible to residents in the neighborhood. It’s only visible to people in vehicles on the road,” said Harler, who works for Harvey Goodman Realtor.

Connelly said that city code only allows for 4 square foot signs on single-family homes with home occupation, which Harler does not have.

Harler could apply for home occupation, but might not get approval because the sign is not for a business he started, Connelly added.

“In talking to the city solicitor’s office, a precedent being set of a residential property being able to be used for large-scale commercial signage is concerning,” Connelly said.

The board had no other business on its agenda at Thursday’s meeting. Chairman Ron Sinclair absent from the meeting.

Wheeling’s Board of Zoning Appeals is set to meet again on March 21 in City Council’s chambers in the City-County Building, 1500 Chapline St.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today