By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Fayetteville City Council Monday delayed action on Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby's request for a variance to allow a larger sign than city law normally would allow.

The company plans to move into the vacant Wal-Mart building in downtown Fayetteville, occupying more than half of the vacant store.

After a lengthy discussion during last week's council work session, Dick Brady of MOR Sign Graphics said he will try to redesign signs for the store to comply with city ordinances without a variance.

“I don't have a great feeling that they are going to give us any more than what's in the code,” Brady told The Citizen following the meeting.

The problem, said Mayor Mike Wheat during the meeting, is that the city has held other large stores moving into town to its ordinances.

“We'd like you to try to create something that gets as close to the ordinance as you can,” said Wheat.

“I would hate to have to talk to Home Depot and Lowe's about why we changed the requirement after they met it,” added city manager Mike Bryant.

Brady said the problem is that the company offers a wider variety of merchandise than its name implies, so there's a need for smaller signs telling potential customers about the various departments in the store, in addition to one big sign naming the store.

In order to get the big sign large enough to be seen from Ga. Highway 85, he needs more space than the law allows, he said.

But Hobby Lobby owners want to be good neighbors, he added, saying he will try to eliminate the need for a variance.

“They're excited about coming into this area,” he said.

If the variance request is not withdrawn before then, council will discuss it again at its Nov. 10 work session, with action slated for its business meeting Nov. 15.