Drayton-Parker, the parent company of the Parker’s Kitchen convenience store chain, is seeking permission to use bigger signage at two of its locations currently under construction in Columbia County.
The Savannah-based company, along with Anchor Sign, has requested a variance for its site at 5095 Washington Road, at the corner of Washington Road and Riverview Parkway, across the street from Riverwood Town Center.
The county ordinance allows up to 12 square feet of signage per side for gas station canopies visible from public or private roads, which would allow the Washington Road site as much as three such canopy signs.
Drayton-Parker, however, is requesting its store be allowed two signs at 39.4 square feet each. Anchor Sign, corresponding with Columbia County’s planning department on behalf of Parker’s Kitchen, noted that due to the upcoming store’s 200-foot setback between the main entrance and Washington Road, the larger signage would increase visibility to traffic on the busy thoroughfare.
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Anchor also used this rationale for a similar request for its upcoming store at the intersection of Columbia and Lewiston roads, seeking a variance to install 24-square-foot signage instead of the 15 square feet the county would normally allow at the site.
Earlier this year, Parker’s petitioned for a variance allowing 67-square foot signage at its Grovetown store at 925 Husk Box Way. The Board of Commissioners ultimately shot it down, though allowed the store to install one 36-square foot sign on its canopy.
Planning staff is recommending the county deny the variance for the store at Washington Road, noting its location at a busy intersection and its plans to include seven signs total identifying it as a Parker’s Kitchen.
The Columbia County Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the variance request for 5095 Washington Road during its meeting on Thursday, Sept. 5, and the request at 5170 Columbia Road on Sept. 19.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
