Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission held December 16, 2025, 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Members present:
Mike Cook – Chairman
Kevin Asker – Vice Chair
Dan Gautney
Brian Perry
James Zehner
Yolanda Stout
Members absent: Lee Spencer
City Staff: City Administrator Kennedy
The meeting was called to order by Mike Cook at 6:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Dan Gautney, second by Kevin Asker to approve the minutes of October 7, 2025, as presented. Motion carried.
PUBLIC HEARING #1: The public hearing was opened at 6:01 p.m. for a variance submitted by Freebird Holdings LLC, 331 W Main Street, to allow them to use their existing digital/electronic sign as a billboard.
APPLICANT PRESENTATION: Cody Edwards with Freebird Holdings stated the sign is already in place and was used to advertise for the businesses on the property. He ran into a few problems when he started posting birthday and memorial messages and election advertisements. The election item was later resolved; however he found out he couldn’t advertise anything additionally on the sign, even though he wasn’t being paid. The billboard designation would allow them both to accept paid advertising if desired and to post community messages they choose to share.
Brian Perry asked if there was an issue with the real estate property listings on sign. Cody stated no, as they are advertising for the businesses on the property. Mike Cook asked how close the sign was to the intersection. Cody stated he didn’t measure it, but it’s closer than the 200’ in the billboard ordinance. Cody wasn’t sure if it would be measured from Idaho or Junction. He noted the post is on his property but the sign hangs over the right of way. Administrator Kennedy stated Public Works Director Mager thought it was about 25’ from the intersection; however he didn’t go measure it. James Zehner questioned the sign size. Cody responded it is 6’ x 8’. Dan Gautney asked if he plans to use it as a billboard. Cody stated yes if someone wants to pay. Cody stated the primary reason for the sign was to advertise the three businesses located on the property. Yolanda Stout stated this is a new sign. Did you replace the sign and then decide to ask for permission? Administrator Kennedy stated the owners were issued a building permit for the new sign but it was approved as a sign for the three businesses on the property, not as billboard. As soon as you start advertising for someone else, even if you do it for free, it becomes a billboard. That’s why Cody is going through the variance process. Dan Gautney questioned if he’ll follow the same timeframe the Free Press does for seconds between frames. Cody felt 8-10 seconds was most beneficial based upon attention span. Yolanda asked about the sign’s brightness as she felt it was blinding. Cody stated they have adjusted it and turned it down to 50% at night and when it’s brighter during the day it is turned up. James questioned how long the sign has been up and running. Cody thought maybe since September or October.
STAFF PRESENTATION: City Administrator Kennedy reported all notices of hearing were delivered to those property owners within 300’ and published in the paper for the public at large. The application requests a variance from the following sections of 8-8-5C.
• 8-8-5C1: Allowable Zone: Billboards shall only be allowed within the two hundred foot (200′) corridor on both sides of U.S. Highway 95 as it passes through the city of Grangeville and area of city impact. Furthermore, no billboard shall be located within two hundred feet (200′) of an intersection.
• 8-8-5C 3: Height: The bottom of any billboard shall not be higher than five feet (5′) from the ground level and the top shall be no higher than ten feet (10′) above the ground level.
• 8-8-5C 5: Public Property: Allowable Zone: Billboards shall only be allowed within the two hundred foot (200′) corridor on both sides of U.S. Highway 95 as it passes through the city of Grangeville and area of city impact. Furthermore, no billboard shall be located within two hundred feet (200′) of an intersection.
• 8-8-5C 7: Construction and Intersections: No billboard shall be constructed within two hundred feet (200′) of intersection measured perpendicular to near right-of-way line for the crossing street, on a principal arterial, minor arterial or collector street as designated on the city of Grangeville zoning map.
• 8-8-5C 8: Illumination – Billboards may be illuminated by indirect lighting from the top only and the source of the lighting shall not be observable from any location surrounding the billboard. No billboard shall contain any blinking lights or movable parts, except that tri-action sign faces shall be allowed.
Brian Perry questioned if there was a certain size for signs versus billboards in the city. His concern is if the variance is approved and now the sign becomes a billboard, can the existing sign be replaced with a billboard sign the size of the Free Press billboard? Is this sign its own entity? Is it in its own LLC or in your business name. Cody stated it’s in their business.
Administrator Kennedy explained the existing sign is a freestanding sign under the 64 square feet that advertises businesses on the property. It meets the current code, which is why the building permit was issued. However by using it as a billboard, it doesn’t meet the requirements in the billboard ordinance, which is why Cody is asking for a variance. With conditional uses and variances, the commission can recommend specific restrictions, such as maximum or minimum size, or no restrictions, in their motion for the council to consider. The restrictions and reasoning need to be clear. Then the Council will consider the recommendation and they will decide if they want the same restrictions or no restrictions.
WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE: none
SUPPORTERS:
NEUTRALS: none
OPPONENTS: none
APPLICANT REBUTTAL: none
Hearing closed at 6:21 p.m.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION: James Zehner stated he has driven by the sign numerous times and doesn’t see how it impacts site or traffic. Most of the time he doesn’t notice it. He is not opposed to the request. Brian Perry felt they were there tonight over a definition not an act. Cody can use the existing sign to run ads about the businesses on the lot all day without a problem. He doesn’t see any safety issues but felt it should not grow out of a sign size into a billboard size. He felt the existing size is fine; as it currently is, it is tasteful and it fits into its surroundings. He would not support a motion without parameters that include keeping it at same size if it needs changed out due to age or damage. Dan Gatuney agreed with having conditions attached to the sign. He felt 6’x8’ was a good size. His only issue is it is at the stop light. He felt they should kept it at the 8-10 seconds for the flip between images. Brian felt if the city approves the variance and it could be used for advertising then it has to meet those same requirements. Administrator Kennedy stated the 8 second flip presented in the last two billboard applications referred to the State of Idaho requirement for outdoor advertising. These are state requirements, not city. If his application is approved at the city, he will still need to apply through the Idaho Transportation Department for outdoor advertising approval. Yolanda felt the sign was still too bright and should be turned down more.
On motion by James Zehner, second by Dan Gautney to recommend to the city council to approve the existing 6’x8’ size sign as a billboard for advertising and have the variance only run with the existing business. Brian clarified the intent of that portion of the motion relating to recommendation only applying to the existing owner, stating if Cody sold the property, then the new owner would need to apply for a variance if they wanted to use the sign as a billboard. If a new owner chose to use the sign for the businesses on the property, no action would be needed. ROLL CALL VOTE: YES: Gautney, Stout, Asker, Perry, Zehner NO: none. ABSTAIN: none. The motion passed.
TITLE 10 ZONING REVIEW: No discussion occurred.
MIKE COOK THANK YOU: City Administrator Kennedy stated Mike Cook’s term expires in January and he has decided it’s time for someone else to take his place. He has served at on P&Z since March of 2002. His service is much appreciated.
NEXT MEETING: A meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.
Adjourned by Mike Cook at 6:38 p.m.
Tonya Kennedy – City Clerk
