Popcorn sculpture approved for Jasper business
Juanita and Tom Eckert have received approval to add a 14-foot tall architectural feature to the front of their business located on Newton Street.
The Jasper Board of Zoning Appeals approved the couple’s variance request in a 3-1 vote Wednesday night. The variance was necessary due to their two businesses, Eckert Pool Supply and the Jasper Gift Basket and Popcorn Company, already utilizing the maximum allowable signage at the location.
Plus, the statue will be mounted around a light post on the business property and will exceed the allowable size of 80 square feet for a single pole/pylon mounted sign — it is estimated to be over 400 square feet of signage.
The Eckerts appeared before the Jasper Planning Commission in February and were directed to request the variance through the board of zoning appeals.
According to Juanita, the new structure will serve several needs for the business and the community. “We want visitors and the community to know what our business has to offer,” she said. “Plus we want to offer an attraction for tourists.”
The structure, a 14-foot tall and 8-foot wide three dimensional aluminum and fiberglass statue of a box of popcorn, will be the largest of its kind in the country, according to Tom. It will feature a raised pedestal designed to allow tourists or locals to take pictures next to it.
The lone dissenting vote Wednesday night came from BZA member Josh Gunselman due to his concerns about the signs proximity to the busy intersection of Newton and 15th Streets. “We are given specific requirement for voting no and one of those is ‘does this impact public safety,'” he explained. “I don’t think they [Eckerts] carried their burden to prove that it wouldn’t be detrimental to the safety [at the intersection].”
The Eckerts plan on adding the structure to the middle of their parking lot about 60 feet away from Newton Street.
Other concerns included the upkeep and attractiveness of the statue but the Eckerts ensured the board the statue would be attractive and maintained.
With the approval, the Eckerts plan on having the sign constructed and installed in the next 6-8 weeks. Custom Sign and Engineering of Newburgh is the manufacturer.
