Planning commission denies sign request

The message was clear from Columbia County planning commissioners Thursday night.

A request for a planned Martinez gas station to have a larger sign than what is currently allowed not only ended with a "no" vote, it also caused planning commissioners to consider revising the county's sign rules.

At issue was a request by Ray Peters, the president of AAA Sign Co. Inc. in Augusta. Peters asked planning commissioners to approve the construction of two signs for a Spirit Foods gas station, which is planned for 426 S. Belair Road. One of the signs was to be 30 feet tall and the other 120 feet tall.

The purpose of the 120-foot-tall sign would be to make motorists traveling on Interstate 20 better aware of the new business, he said. He said it also will allow fair competition with other businesses that have "low- and high-rise signs."

Peters, however, was told that the 120-foot sign would be taller than what is currently allowed in an ordinance.

Planning commissioners then took issue with the fact that the business is seeking to put up two signs, because the ordinance allows only one sign on a parcel.

Peters said the gas station is located on two parcels of land, which means it is allowed to have two signs.

But because the building is located in the middle of these two parcels, planning commissioners said it should be approved to have only one sign.

Browning recommended that commissioners revise the ordinance to allow only one sign for a business in such cases.

In the end, commissioners voted unanimously to deny the request.