Ross Zoning Approves More, Bigger Signs for New hhgregg Store

The Ross Township Zoning Hearing Board approved a variance request 3-0 Wednesday for increased signage for along McKnight Road. 

The request increases the area of the wall sign by 500 square feet and permits an additional wall sign of 256 square feet on the property, located at 7377 McKnight Road.   

Joel Coslov, the manager of COFAL Partners, which represented the owners of the towne center at the board meeting, said the size of the sign must be increased because the building that will house the retailer has been blocked by newer developments. 

"In order for them to succeed, they need to have the kind of exposure they're looking for in these signs," he said.

He added that the lack of visibility was one of the main complaints of Office Depot and was a reason for

Office Depot had leased the space since about 1990. Since then, the North Hills Toyota car dealership and Jared the Galleria of Jewelry were built in between the building and McKnight Road, creating exposure problems for the tenant, Coslov said. 

The former Office Depot building sets 300 feet back from McKnight Road, and the far side of the front building—where the main entrance is located—is 400 feet back.

"It's very difficult to see the building itself," he said. "It was part of the reason we were unable to keep Office Depot there."

Jim Wigal, chairman of the Ross Township Planning Commission, told the zoning board he didn't object to the size of the signs being requested, but he said he didn't want the move to set a precedent. 

Zoning hearing board Vice Chairman Beth Schellhaas, and members Frank Kodrich and Dave Uhl voted in favor of the variances. Chairman James Atzert and member Rick Avon were absent. 

"Welcome, hhgregg, to Ross Township," Kodrich said after the variances passed. 

Matt Andecover, the project manager for hhgregg, said work will begin Monday to convert the former Office Depot into the space for the new retailer. 

Also Wednesday, the zoning hearing board: 

* Approved, 3-0, a variance request by Timothy Duak, of the 100 block of Longvue Drive, for a 4-foot-high picket fence in the front yard of his home. Ross Township's code permits only an ornamental fence or two-rail split rail fence in the front yard. Duak said the fence is intended for the safety of his family and his two dogs. 

* Approved, 3-0, a variance request for for a 15-square-foot increase of a digital display message board on property located at 2134 Babcock Boulevard. 

Ross Township's code permits only an 18-square-foot span for a digital sign. Buddy Swisshelm, a representive from the sign manufacturer who spoke for Plumbers Equipment, said the increase in size was to allow the full message to fit on the sign at one time. 

"Plumbers Equipment sells a high-end product. The purpose is a static message," Swisshelm said. 

The original sign on the property will remain, with the LED sign placed just below it, he said. 

* Approved 3-0 a variance request for reuse of a non-conforming pole sign on property located at 7380 McKnight Road.