MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Mitchell Mayor Jordan Hanson said the discussion over a variance to allow a new billboard at 2101 N. Main Street was unlike anything he has ever seen while in the city’s top political post.
The city council met on Monday night and initially voted 5-3 in favor of allowing JTRT Advertising to put up a 384 square foot sign on the property. That fell short of the six votes necessary for the allowance. Before the council gaveled out in its role as Board of Adjustment and went back to regular session, a Hail Mary pass from the applicants caused them to reconsider.
The group said they had done a workup on a 16-foot-by-20-foot (320 sq. ft.) advertisement that they believed could get their message across while using less space. The council heard the presentation and voted unanimously to retract its previous action. They then voted to accept the smaller billboard. A variance is required for any signage between 300 and 600 square feet. If the space had been less than 300 square feet, no council action would have been necessary at the site.
JTRT Advertising had to make some additional changes, so that it didn’t block other signage in the area. The billboard will need to be at least 10 feet off the ground, whereas the traditional placement is for six feet. It will also use two support columns on either end rather than a lone, central pole, to allow for better sightlines to what is behind it.
Monday’s actions ended what had become a complicated issue. The variance had been tabled at both of May’s council meetings (5/4 and 5/18).