City denies car dealership’s request to allow neon signage

Centennial Hyundai’s waiver request to allow neon signage at the 6200 Centennial Center Blvd. car dealership was denied by the city Planning Commission on Nov. 6.

The request originally appeared on the commission’s Oct. 23 agenda, but a decision was delayed until this month so the commission could review the Town Center standards governing signage in the area.

The applicant, owner John Staluppi Jr., built the Planet Nissan dealership in the northwest years ago and went on to open four more area dealerships, culminating with Centennial Hyundai, before realizing that other businesses in the area used neon lights on their buildings, representative Mike Bellon said.

Members of the commission said they were worried allowing more neon would not only upset the standards of the Town Center guidelines, but would set a dangerous precedent, as well.

“That’s why I’m here,” Bellon said. “Other (businesses) already have that opportunity. (Staluppi) built his dealerships under the standards and then found out that others had neon.”

New Ward 6 Planning Commissioner Keen Ellsworth said he was torn over the decision.

“I struggle with this because … other buildings have neon under the Brown Book standards,” Ellsworth said. “Others have brighter lighting, where this request is just accent lighting. So I have a hard time denying it.”

The Brown Book standards, explained by city planning staff, were a set of development guidelines that pre-empted the Town Center standards and allowed some businesses to use neon signage.

“At the end of the day, we have to be concerned if what we have resembles the architectural standards that were purposefully set high,” commissioner Steven Evans said.

Commission chairman Byron Goynes argued that neon lighting would be unnecessary for a large, well-lit facility in the vicinity of other auto dealerships.

“It’s a big beacon saying, ‘Come see me, I got cars for sale,’ ” Goynes said. “I think (allowing neon) will set a precedent.”

A motion for approval of the waiver made by commissioner Glenn Trowbridge was denied, with Trowbridge and Ellsworth voting in the minority.

Also at the Nov. 6 meeting, the Clark County School District’s request for a site development plan review — allowing a perimeter chain link fence — was approved unanimously by the commission. The application will allow construction efforts to move along at the Bozarth Elementary School site in the Providence master-planned community, at Egan Crest Drive and Severence Lane. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009.

Contact Centennial View reporter Brock Radke at bradke@viewnews.com or 383-4629.