The York County Planning Commission voted Nov. 10 to approve a master sign plan for the Westlake Market shopping center (Highways 55/274 intersection in Council District 2) after requiring several modifications.

Planning staff described the application as a standard master sign plan for a development expected to exceed 100,000 square feet and walked the commission through five decision areas: two large entrance monument signs (applicant requested 255 sq ft each vs. the 150 sq ft code allowance), outparcel monument signs, wall signage area, canopy signage, and incidental/temporary sign allowances. Staff recommended approval subject to adjustments and invited the commission to decide section by section.

Applicant Karen Partee said the shopping center will include roughly 18 tenant spaces and explained the requested monument area reflected combining the center's signage allocation with a second parcel’s allocation; she offered to remove the "Westlake Market" nameplate to reduce the requested sign message area. Commissioners examined aerials and sightlines to ensure monument placement would not create sight-triangle issues on Dave Lyle Boulevard and clarified a requested 5-foot reduction in setback toward Homegrown Way rather than toward Charlotte Highway.

After considering precedent concerns for Lake Wylie and compatibility with nearby neighborhoods, the commission adopted amendments before approving the plan by voice vote. Key approved changes: reduce the entrance monument message area to 225 sq ft if the "Westlake" name is removed; allow LED fuel-price displays for the fuel center monument; permit up to 2.0 square feet of signage per linear foot of storefront frontage (the commission debated 1.5 but adopted 2.0); and explicitly allocate signage to the undeveloped back parcel within the master sign plan so that any future change to that parcel’s signage must return to the commission for amendment.

What happens next: Planning staff will prepare final approval language reflecting the amendments; the applicant will submit permitting materials and any future developer who needs additional signage for the encumbered back parcel must return to the commission for an amendment to the master sign plan.