Business & Tech

Klaben Sign Proposal First Challenge for Kent's New Sign Code

Klaben, Kent zoning board members debate application of city's new sign code

Kent's recently tweaked sign code met its first application test Monday as the sought two variances to replace its existing Lincoln brand sign on West Main Street.

The car dealer, as mandated by Ford Motor Co., was forced to replace their existing sign at 1089 W. Main St. to eliminate the portion advertising the now-defunct Mercury brand.

But the proposed sign, very similar in size to the existing sign, does not meet requirements of the city's new sign code, which was adopted in April 2010 — on the same day Klaben submitted their sign proposal.

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For 90 minutes, the zoning board members questioned Klaben representatives and city planning staff and debated how the code should be applied to the proposed sign. Ultimately, the zoning board granted both variances.

Diane Werner, chair of the zoning board, said it is ironic city boards and commissions spent two years talking about the changes to the sign code to make it clearer and avoid lengthy discussions over applying and interpreting the code.

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"And the very first night we have this code we have a lengthy discussion," she said. 

Klaben sought, and gained, approval for a 53-foot variance to allow a 104-square-foot sign and a variance for about 3 feet to allow a sign 23 feet tall.

Rich Klaben, president of the Klaben Auto Group, said the sign was designed at the Ford Motor Corp. offices and is required by dealers as part of their Lincoln franchise agreement.

"That is a brand sign," Klaben said. "We have no control over the look. This is their sign. They own this sign. They’re paying to install the sign."

Zoning board members Paul Sellman and Dave Mail pointed to that fact as a reasonable hardship — and enough of an argument for granting the variances.

"I think one of the main hardships for this … is the fact this is a Ford Motor Co. mandate," Sellman said.

But zoning board members Elizabeth Howard and Steve Balazs questioned whether Klaben had an alternative with Ford other than the sign proposed. In particular, Howard and Balazs asked if Klaben had a smaller option from Ford to choose.

Klaben and his sign contractor, Ellet Sign Co., said it's possible but they didn't know for sure if Ford would allow them to go with a smaller sign for their Lincoln brand.

"Are they going to redesign the sign for a few square feet? No," Klaben said. "If eventually Ellet Sign keeps going back to (Ford) and says this isn’t working … then they would have to give us a variance for what they require of us, in terms of our brand. But it’s not going to be 12 square feet less. It’s going to be a whole different animal."

Howard said she asked the same question when the plans were first presented to the zoning board last month and she was disappointed not to have a firm answer Monday.

"What I’m hearing is, Ford has alternatives," she said. "My question then is: what is the hardship?”

Balazs said he understood the mandate from Ford, but he still wanted Klaben to meet Kent's code, which includes a 100-square-foot maximum for signs.

"I have to say, I like the look of the new building," Balazs said. "I love it. The new code is adjusting some of the issues you’re just starting to dive into. Especially along that western corridor, because it has tended to get out of hand."

The board debated ways in which they might provide certain conditions for approving the sign and even discussed a provision in the new sign code that allows for a "comprehensive sign package" submission for Klaben's entire Ford dealership that would allow the sign to surpass individual sign requirements in place of a total sign package. That route would have required action by the Kent Planning Commission.

They also debated whether they could limit the sign to 20 feet tall instead of the proposed 23 feet.

But ultimately the board approved both variance requests with Balazs and Howard voting against the height variance.

In voting for the variances, Mail was careful to point out the new sign code allows the board to approve variances without setting a precedent for future sign proposals.

"I don’t think the magnitude of difference ... is substantial enough for me as a citizen of Kent to leap out of my chair, rip off my bra and go to the barricades," Mail said.

"If we’re going to bow every time a corporation says 'It’s got to be this way,' who are we," Balazs said. "And that’s a philosophical argument."


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