City debates sign heights again

It appears the Mill Creek City Council is again clamping the lid on business sign heights in the city.

A proposed variance to allow a taller sign for the Larry Schmidt Medical Building at 153rd Street Southeast and Bothell-Everett Highway is apparently dead after a majority of council members said they would not grant a variance to allow a sign nearly two-and-a-half feet taller than city codes.

A majority of council members, however, said they would permit a variance that would allow a shorter setback for a sign along Bothell-Everett Highway. The building currently has a sign on 153rd that meets city codes but isn’t visible to drivers on Bothell-Everett Highway.

Tuesday’s debate frustrated Mark Anderson, owner of the Schmidt Medical Building and the person seeking the sign exemptions.

“When we did our signage, we thought we’d be elegant and understated, but that was a mistake,” Anderson said. “We’re providing a vital community service, and I think this is for the (good of the community).”

Anderson is seeking a 66-inch tall sign, whereas city codes allow for a 42-inch sign. He also wants an exemption to setback laws requiring signs to be 5 feet back from the road. He is seeking no setback, in part because of a bus stop turnout located where the sign would be placed.

Councilwoman Mary Kay Voss, who said she would reject granting any variances when the item comes for a vote on Feb. 13, didn’t buy Anderson’s argument.

“We can get into trouble granting variances based on the type of business that applies for it,” she said. “We have codes and state regulations that tell us how deal with (variances). There are other ways to have good, tasteful signs on the building.”

Voss said the building could move its sign to the corner of 153rd and Bothell-Everett, and city manager Steve Nolen said a larger sign could be placed on the building and still fall within city zoning laws.

Mayor Donna Michelson, meanwhile, expressed concern about granting the height exemption and the precedent that would be set.

“What is to prevent another applicant from coming in and asking for a 100-inch sign? I just wonder, with the regulations and the way they are set up, what’s to prevent someone from coming in and asking for that? We don’t want that in the city,” she said.

While most council members opposed granting a taller sign, most, except for Voss, favored granting the setback exemption because of the sign’s proposed location next to a bus turnout. That setback was unanimously approved by the city’s Planning Commission, but the taller sign was more contentious, with the commission split on whether or not to recommend approval.

Based on council feedback, city staff will draft an ordinance approving the setback exemption, but not the taller sign, said associate planner Christi Amrine.

Councilman Dale Hensley was not at Tuesday’s meeting. Councilwoman Rosemary Bennetts excused herself from debate on the issue because of a potential business conflict. She will not take part when the council discusses and votes on the matter on Tuesday.