The Greeneville Board of Zoning Appeals denied Tuesday a request from K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City) for a sign height and size variance.

The action came during the board's Tuesday, Jan. 8, meeting in the G. Thomas Love Board Room.

Matthew Humphrey with Bristol Sign Co., which is handling signage for K-VA-T Food Stores, represented the request for a variance allowing additional square footage and height to a new road sign for the Food City store to be located in the old Walmart building off U.S.11E that is currently being renovated.

The sign ordinance allows a single-tenant business a sign height of 30 feet and a size of 300 square-feet.

The sign ordinance allows multiple tenants an increased maximum height and size of 35 feet in height and 400 square-feet in overall size.

Currently there is only the potential for multiple tenants at the location, but the Town is allowing for the larger sign height and size anyway, which would be shared if another tenant moves to the shopping area.

K-VA-T Food Stores is requesting a three-foot height increase and an 84-square-foot size increase that would bring the total height to 38 feet and the total size to 484 square-feet.

Humphrey's written request read: "The request for additional height would be in result of allowing those driving a better opportunity to see the sign from a distance and lead to little confusion on where to turn."

Humphrey said the store's distance from the highway causes a visibility problem.

However, Jeff Woods, Greeneville building inspector, said the Town building staff does not recommend granting the variance request because the Town is already allowing for a larger sign size and height.

The board voted unanimously to deny the variance.

Also, the discussion regarding planned unit development requirements was tabled for next month's meeting because no one representing the request for clarification and changes was present.