By Caitlin Thigpen
Lexington’s zoning appeals board approved a six-month extension that will give two Lexington businesses the time needed to move their signs.
At a meeting on Nov. 3, the Board of Zoning Appeals agreed to an extension of six months for two unnamed businesses to move signs that interfere with a S.C. Department of Transportation project to expand the town of Lexington’s West Main Street.
The businesses were among five that were given a year to move their signs to a location that would not interfere with the DOT project. If the businesses had been forced to make changes last year, DOT would have required the city to pay for it .
“DOT would have asked us to reimburse them,” said Nathan Leaphart, a member of the board.
The original variance was approved so the five businesses could have a grace period to get their signs in compliance with the new regulations established by DOT’s expansion of West Main, without cost to the city.
During the past year, three of the businesses managed to move their signs.
The four members of the board present were unanimous in support of the extension because plans are in motion to move the signs in the near future.
“I think these are pretty unusual circumstances,” said Royce Lehman, a member of the board.
The Board of Zoning Appeals reviews one or two cases like this a month, according to Britt Poole, a lawyer representing the two businesses. A variance is only approved if the case meets one or more of four criteria.
“We only approve variances for cases with no resolution available otherwise,” said Poole.
Caitlin Thigpen is a first-year student at Columbia College. She is a psychology major.
