Board approves two Adventure District sign variances for Martin Luther King Avenue

The City of Oklahoma City Board of Adjustments on April 17 approved two variances to allow larger median signs for the OKC Adventure District along North Martin Luther King Avenue.

The board approved Case No. 15889, a request from Metro Signs for the Adventure District at 5425 N. Martin Luther King Ave., and Case No. 15890, a separate but identical request for placement at 5901 N. Martin Luther King Ave. Both motions passed after brief discussion and applicant remarks.

Why it matters: the Adventure District said it needs new, larger wayfinding signs to prepare for major events scheduled in coming years. Britney Hunter, executive director of the OKC Adventure District, told the board, "Ultimately, we're trying to get ready for FIFA now and also the LA 28 Olympics. And, we just need new signs. Our signs are not pretty." She also said the proposed signs are “right at about twice as big as what was permitted.”

Board discussion and action: board members asked only a few procedural questions (location, size and placement in the center median) and noted that the proposal would replace existing median signage. One board member said the new sign size fits this corridor because recent city sign-code changes sometimes force smaller signs in areas where larger, single-purpose signs are more appropriate. Motions to approve each case were made, seconded and approved for both Case No. 15889 and Case No. 15890. The transcript records the outcome as "passes"; vote tallies and roll-call names were not specified.

What the approvals authorize: staff and the applicant said they plan to remove existing median signs and install the new designs; one installed sign had been damaged by wind and was being replaced. The approvals grant the variances to the sign-size and right-of-way prohibition provisions as requested in the two separate applications.

Next steps: applicants will proceed with permitting and installation per city permitting processes.