The Leonardtown Board of Zoning Appeals has approved four new signs for St. Mary’s Hospital, including a new one at the Route 5 entrance that includes an LED message board. The vote was 2-1, with member Joan Ritchie opposing. She did not explain her vote.
The board adopted a recommendation by the town planning commission for a smaller- than-originally-requested, 56-square-foot sign at the entrance. Based on the planning commission recommendation, the hospital voluntarily reduced the size from 64 square feet, but the sign still required a variance because the size limit for a sign in the town’s regulations is 32 square feet.
The planning commission came up with the 56-foot recommendation by adding the 32- square-foot limit for a regular sign and the 24-square-foot limit for a LED message sign.
A neighbor across Route 5 from the hospital entrance, Corey Hiles, testified against changing the existing sign. She said the new sign was less attractive and she would see it glaring at her when she looked out her windows.
Hiles was particularly concerned about the LED message sign. “Does it need to be a digital sign. I don’t think so. A digital sign is even more of a distraction. It’s unsafe,” she said. Hiles complained about traffic at that location and the difficulty of entering and exiting Moakley Street just a short distance from the hospital entrance.
Hospital VP Mark Boucot said the hospital has unsuccessfully attempted to get a traffic signal at the hospital entrance. And the town has repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempted to get the state to put in a traffic signal at Moakley Street, according to Town Administrator Laschelle McKay.
Ritchie said she agreed with the traffic concerns and the other board members also chimed in with personal stories about the intersection. “I share you pain. The speed limit on that stretch of road is a joke,” Ritchie said.
Boucot told the board members, as he had previously testified to the planning commission, that the existing sign is too small and too far back from the road and people are constantly driving by it. “We have experienced ambulance drivers who have actually missed the driveway,” he said. The new sign would be two-feet closer to the road and perpendicular to Route 5, instead of at an angle, as is the existing sign.
The board also approved variances for three other directional signs: on Moakley Street, at Doctor’s Crossing Road and Miss Bessie Drive, and at the end of the main driveway. Boucot said the larger signs are needed because people are often coming to the hospital at times of extreme stress and they need all the help they can get to point out the right way to go.
Regarding the message board, Boucot said it was another method of telling the community about hospital programs. He said the sign wouldn’t be flashy and the message wouldn’t be changed that often.
Board member Darren Meyer made the motion
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