U-Haul Signage Proposal Splits Humboldt County Planning Commission

A heated debate over a proposed expansion of U-Haul signage at the Mill Creek Marketplace Shopping Center in McKinleyville ended in a stalemate at the Humboldt County Planning Commission meeting on September 4th. The commission voted 2-2 on a conditional use permit modification for the signage, resulting in a postponement of the decision until the October 2nd meeting.

The proposal, initially discussed at the August 7th meeting, involves the installation of 22 new signs across two U-Haul buildings, formerly occupied by K-Mart and Ray's Market. The total signage would cover 2366 square feet. U-Haul General Manager Dale Uber argued that the extensive signage is crucial for customers to easily navigate the large, multi-building facility. He also highlighted U-Haul's community involvement through sponsorships and events.

The Planning Commission, comprised of Chair Iver Skavdal (First District), Thomas Mulder (Second District), Peggy ONeill (Fifth District), and Jerome Quiriazi (Fourth District), along with staff members both in person and via Zoom, received mixed feedback on the proposal. Nine emails and letters supported the project, while four opposed it citing concerns about visual impact, the nature of the business, and potential false advertising. Staff noted that one email sought clarification that tree removal was not part of the project. The staff recommendation was to approve the permit modification subject to conditions of approval.

Commissioners deliberated on the signage's appropriateness, considering the buildings' size and distance from public rights-of-way. The discussion also touched upon the ordinance's allowance of signage beyond initial expectations and the need for directional signage to improve customer navigation. Ultimately, the initial motion to approve the permit failed due to the 2-2 split vote. A subsequent motion to continue the discussion to the October 2nd meeting passed unanimously, 4-0.

The Planning Commission will resume its discussion of the U-Haul signage at its next meeting on October 2nd, 2025. Meeting minutes from the September 4th meeting are available on the Humboldt County website at https://humboldtgov.org/194/Planning-Commission. Residents interested in participating in future discussions are encouraged to review the meeting agendas and submit public comments as outlined on the county website.