By Sarah DeMaranville
The Geneseo Current
Geneseo Culver’s has received approval to replace its existing letter board sign with a new digital messaging sign.
City Administrator Brandon Maeglin confirmed Tuesday that the city's Planning and Zoning Board approved the request, allowing the restaurant to move forward with the upgrade.
“The digital sign was approved by the PZ [Planning/ Zoning] Board,” Maeglin said in an email to The Geneseo Current. He explained that the board has final authority over these types of signs, meaning no additional board approval is needed for the project to proceed.
Culver’s owner Josh Martel also attended the meeting to discuss the sign upgrade and the restaurant's continued investment in its Geneseo location.
The new digital sign will replace the restaurant's existing manually updated letter board, providing an updated way to display messages.
Under Section 40-157 of the Geneseo Code of Ordinances, multiple message signs are permitted in most zoning districts but must receive approval from the city's plan commission before a permit can be issued.
The ordinance establishes several requirements intended to regulate the appearance and operation of electronic signs.
Digital signs are limited to 30 square feet of messaging area per side, and only one multiple message sign is permitted per lot. Static images may change no more frequently than once every three seconds, and animated, flashing or blinking displays are prohibited. Transition effects between images are permitted but cannot exceed one second.
The city also regulates sign brightness. Electronic signs may not exceed 5,000 nits during daytime hours or 500 nits from dusk to dark. Signs must be equipped with automatic dimming technology that adjusts brightness based on surrounding light conditions.
Additional restrictions address light levels near neighboring properties, particularly residential areas.
These standards apply to multiple message signs throughout the city and are intended to regulate their operation and visual impact.
A timeline for installation of the new Culver’s sign was not provided.
The board's approval allows the restaurant to proceed with the sign replacement, subject to applicable permitting and ordinance requirements.
See meeting packet below. Click to enlarge.
