FARR WEST -- With a 3-2 vote from council members, two signs for Farr West Family Dental at 1791 North and 2000 West slipped under the guidelines of the city sign ordinance.
Councilman Tim Shupe moved to approve the signs even though one is bigger than the ordinance allows and then requested the planning commission to revise the ordinance as quickly as possible so the sign would be in compliance.
The planning commission had previously denied approval of the signs because one was too large and not in compliance with the city ordinance.
Shupe and Councilmen Michael Lunt and Dale Chugg voted to approve the signs, while Councilwoman Ava Painter and Councilman Lee Dickemore were opposed.
Justin Westmoreland of Desert Dog Signs said he had read the city ordinance and believed the signs might be in compliance because Farr West Family Dental has three frontage areas.
City attorney Ryan Shaw said the frontages can each have a sign, but they can not be combined to allow a larger sign.
"It's done tastefully and it's not going to be an eyesore," said Westmoreland.
"It looks like it is very tastefully and professionally designed and I wouldn't have a problem with it," said Shupe.
"The issue is the size of the sign," said planning commission member Lou Best. "We do not object to the design of the sign, it is just not in the code as we interpret it."
Best said the planning commission members feel compelled to follow the ordinance as it reads. He did say it was very likely that the planning commission would change this ordinance in the future.
"No one on the planning commission has heartburn with this sign, it just does not comply with the ordinance," said Best.
Shupe said waiting for the ordinance to be changed before the signs could be approved could affect the business at Farr West Family Dental.
Dickemore said that was not the council's problem and said the signs should be in compliance with city ordinances.
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