The Jefferson City Board of Adjustment unanimously approved variances for signage at the new St. Mary's Health Center.
Two of the variances were to approve a 12-foot-tall white cross that will be placed on top of the new hospital. The third was to add a roof-mounted sign to another building on the hospital's campus. This is the third time for SSM Health officials to request variances before the board, but that is common because of the specific needs of hospitals, said Eric Barron of the city's Planning and Protective Services.
Paul Sampson, project manager for Central Missouri Professional Services, spoke on behalf of SSM health officials for the signage. He mentioned two precedents the board approved that would allow sings on the roof; one for the Newman, Comley and Ruth law firm and another for Jefferson City Medical Group.
The cross is technically not an advertising sign, but for city code purposes it has to be treated as one, Barron said. The architectural addition is comparatively small to the building and is mostly visible for northbound traffic on Missouri Route 179, Sampson said. Barron also added that the sign and the cross would have little impact on surrounding areas.