Zoning appeals board approves large Aldi sign

The Amherst Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved a larger sign and other changes at the city’s Aldi grocery store.

The corporation is in the middle of a nationwide push to update stores, said Amherst Building Inspector David Macartney, and work has begun at the store at 2241 Kresge Drive.

Global Signs and Graphics, a sign company representing Aldi Inc., asked the Zoning Board of Appeals for permission to build a bigger sign.

Macartney said the store still has a ground

pole sign.

The company is allowed to have two signs, which includes the ground pole sign, he said.

Aldi asked for five signs, or three more than allowed by code, Macartney said.

For example, the logo sign is 12 feet tall, but the size allowed is three feet,

he said, so the variance was nine feet.

The company also asked for an additional 197 square feet added to the building, Macartney said.

“As I stated, this is a national campaign for the Aldi’s corporation,” he said. “It’s what they’re doing for their stores throughout the country. It’s part of a corporate push.

“This is the way all of the stores are to look.”

Given the size of the

space they were putting this in and the facade they’re putting on this, the signs will seem in place, Macartney said. It will be lit from inside.

“The square footage they’re adding on is not that great, but it’s the presentation as you’re driving up to the building,” he said.

The board entered deliberative session, and unanimously approved the three variances, said Amherst

Safety Services Director John Jeffreys.

Also, in 10 days, construction will start on widening a portion of Kresge Drive in front of the Aldi shopping plaza, Jeffreys said.

Mayor Mark Costilow will ask City Council on Sept. 5 to approve more money to pay for the road construction at night to alleviate traffic congestion, Jeffreys said.

A second item on the

agenda involved a sign at Trinity Free Evangelical Church, 46485 Middle Ridge Road.

The board approved the new electronic changeable sign.

“The sign at the church was more of a formality, because those folks had come before the Zoning Board of Appeals 1 ½ years ago,” Jeffreys said. “The board turned them down. They filed suit in Lorain County Common Pleas

Court, and the court found in their favor.

“In that 1 ½ year time, we made changes to our electronic sign ordinance. A couple of churches have them.”

Jeffreys and Costilow visited the church after the court released the ruling.

“They’re good neighbors,” Jeffreys said. “They do a lot of good work in the city. We didn’t want them to think we had a problem.”