Chattanooga clinic facing sign troubles, frustrations

photo Ethan Collier
photo Chattanooga City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem

David Bruce found no answers Monday when he briefed planning commissioners on the problems he is having getting a visible sign at Chattanooga Bone & Joint Surgeons on Gunbarrel Road.

The clinic had its sign blown down by storm winds in August of 2013. Since then, it's been looking to put up a bigger, more visible one.

All around his clinic, Bruce said other business signs are bigger and back-lit, which under current zoning, are restricted, except for Erlanger because of its emergency room.

The neighboring, larger signs are obstructing the view of Chattanooga Bone & Joint Surgeons' sign, said Bruce, which is making it hard for patients to find the clinic.

Yusuf Hakeem, Chattanooga city council chairman and member of the planning commission, agreed.

"I'm one of those people who have been on Gunbarrel Road trying to find you," he said.

The solution Bruce presented was changing a small portion of Chattanooga Bone & Joint Surgeons' property from O-1 (low-density office) to C-2 (medium-density commercial), which would allow Bruce to make his own sign larger and back-lit.

That was the recommendation that Chattanooga sign board and building inspection staffers gave Bruce, he said.

John Bridger, executive director of the Regional Planning Agency -- which reviews cases and makes recommendations to the planning commission -- confirmed that Gary Hilbert, Chattanooga's code enforcement officer, told Bridger that building inspection can't grant sign area variances.

And that's how Bruce wound up before the planning commission.

But planning commissioners were hesitant to make a permanent zoning change, which would also amount to granting spot zoning -- something eschewed by the body.

"It's funny that a sign issue became a zoning issue, and personally, I don't think that should be the case," said Ethan Collier, chairman of the planning commission who cast the tie-breaking vote to disallow a zoning change.

"We are here to address zoning issues, not sign issues," said Collier.

The lack of progress on Monday, after months of back-and-forth, frustrated Bruce, though not at the planning commission which was largely in agreement with him.

"It makes no sense to me," Bruce said.

He questioned how the clinic's neighbors are seemingly skirting the very laws preventing the clinic's sign upgrade. And pointed out that their signs are the reason the clinic's sign isn't visible in the first place.

"Somehow, somewhere, people have been able to get around those rules," he said.

It was a point well taken by the planning commission.

"I think we all agree it makes no sense," said Collier.

Donna Williams, head of the city's economic and community development department, urged Bruce to get with her this week so the city can figure out how the other businesses seemingly got around the rules and what Bruce can do to get the signage he wants.

And that's all he's asking.

"Basically, all I want is a sign," Bruce said.

Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.

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