Perry Planning discusses FBC sign

The Perry Planning Commission wants Historic District residents and First Baptist Church personnel to get together and hammer out their differences.

The issue of a zoning variance for a proposed sign turned out to be a sticking point at Monday’s meeting.

Church member Jim Langston told commission members the current sign is “unreadable,” and the church wants to replace it with a newer but smaller sign using LED lights.

A variance is required before an electronic reader sign can be installed.

Bev Abney of Swift Street, also a church member, said an electronic sign would not be welcome by residents.

“There are six blocks with no such signs as you come into Perry,” Abney said, and asked that commissioners respect the historic district. “This is not against the church; this is against the sign,” she said.

Terre Walker of Evergreen Street and a member of the city’s Main Street Advisory Board said an electronic reader board would be detrimental to the property values along Swift Street.

Langston said the LED lights would not be multi-colored or flashing and would not pose a distraction to motorists.

Church pastor the Rev. Jamie Powell said the church is sensitive to the needs of the district, but stressed the current sign is inadequate and needs replacing.

“We’re not going to put up something that’s offensive to the residents,” Powell said.

Commission member Tom Mehserle said he was hoping for a compromise and noted that LED lighting, though relatively new, was not foreign to the area.

The sign’s location, in a parking lot, means that the historic district atmosphere to Swift Street “is not intact,” Mehserle said. “The row of houses that used to be there is gone.” He added that the church has kept up the property.

“I don’t think there well be a resolution tonight,” said commission member Lawrence Clarington. “But if that sign will save one soul, then so be it.”

The commission, on a motion from Mehserle, unanimously agreed to table the item until its next meeting Nov. 9.

In other action the commission:

• Unanimously approved setback variance requests for 104 Rinns Way and 105 Rinns Way in the Brookewater subdivision while letting the side setbacks remain;

• Approved a motion to let First Baptist Church dispose an abandoned structure at 1007 First St.;

• Approved a side yard setback variance at 100 Brookewater Lane; and

• Rejected a special exception request for a home-based daycare at 1724 Milton Way. Chairman Martin Breeland broke a 2-2 tie and voted to deny the request.

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