The Sandy Planning Commission unanimously agreed that the signs meet the criteria of the city's “community signs” ordinance. The issue was a topic Thursday night because Save Our Communities - the local residents group that forced a citywide vote on the zoning of the 107-acre pit - believed the signs deviated from the ordinance and wanted them removed.
The signs are too big to be allowed under Sandy's other sign categories.
“If this isn't a community activity, I don't know what is,” said Bruce Steadman, a member of the Planning Commission.
The reason the signs had become an issue is they were put up by Friends of Quarry Bend, another group of Sandy residents that are in favor of the development. The signs depict drawings of the site and views of the proposed storefronts.
Sandy's Department of Community Development apparently allowed the signs because they fell into an “informative nature” definition within the city code.
Rob Hughes, an attorney for Save Our Communities, pointed out that the informative nature refers to “announcing activities, promotions, events, seasonal or traditional themes having broad community interest.”
“These are informative but they are inherently persuasive,” Hughes said.
Brent Andrewsen, an attorney for Friends of Quarry Bend, argued the signs are allowable because they are a "theme of community interest."
The Planning Commission agreed. Before that happened, one member of the panel accused Save Our Community of “misleading” and “distorting the facts.”
“I wish everyone in Sandy would go down and look at those signs before they go to vote,” said Don Milne, a commission member.
The Boyer Co. plans to bring a Super Wal-Mart, a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, a group of smaller retail outlets and restaurants, more than 300 housing units and about 20 acres of park space to the pit.
The pit was rezoned nearly a year ago to make way for the project, but Save Our Communities successfully forced a referendum by collecting the signatures of 6,425 registered voters. The referendum will be held Nov. 8.
