New Braunfels Board of Adjustment Meeting - May 28, 2026

The New Braunfels Board of Adjustment held a regular meeting on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM at City Hall Council Chambers. Acting Chair Bobby Avary Jr. presided, and the board considered one individual item: an alternative sign plan request from the New Braunfels Independent School District (NBISD). The meeting adjourned at 6:26 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the April 23, 2026 regular meeting minutes (5-0-0).
• Appointment of Acting Chair: Member Andrea Ranft nominated Bobby Avary Jr. to serve as Temporary Chair for the meeting; the motion carried unanimously (5-0-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during Citizens' Communication.
• No individuals spoke in favor of or in opposition to the agenda item during the public hearing.

Discussion Items

• CS26-0073 – Alternative Sign Plan for NBISD (4150 Klein Meadows):
  • Staff presentation by Colton Barker (Neighborhood and Community Planning) explained the request: a freestanding electronic-message pole sign that deviates from C-1B General Business District sign standards. The property is over 100 acres, developed as Long Creek High School. The sign would be set back over 100 feet from the property line and over 150 feet from nearby residences. The applicant provided proposed operating hours of 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM. Three nearby property owners (lots 8, 42, and 66) submitted written responses in favor. Staff recommended approval with conditions.
  • Applicant Joe Alexandre (NBISD Director of Construction and Planning) elaborated on the sign’s proposed hours and noted that operation will be managed by the school principal. He expressed willingness to adjust hours if needed and mentioned that the sign includes a dimmer function.
  • David Cini (representing Spectrum, the sign manufacturer) discussed the sign’s design, lighting controls, and the ability to program both sides independently. He confirmed the sign can be dimmed automatically at dusk and is oriented to catch traffic entering and exiting the school, not facing the highway.
  • Board members discussed concerns about light trespass during dark winter months, the applicant’s proposed hours, and the applicability of draft Land Development Ordinance (LDO) standards. Staff clarified that the draft standards (Article 7.3.6) address brightness, display time, and transitions, and that the applicant’s proposed hours were more restrictive than typical requirements.

Key Outcomes

• Motion and Approval: Member Adam Schneider moved to approve the alternative sign plan with three conditions:
  1. No additional freestanding signage on the property.
  2. The proposed pole sign must conform to the updated display standards in Article 7.3.6 of the Draft LDO: subsections C3 (display standards), C4 (display time and transitions), C5 (display brightness), and C6 (display technology).
  3. The sign shall be oriented perpendicular to Klein Meadows to minimize potential light trespass onto nearby residential properties.
• The motion carried unanimously (5-0-0). Members absent: Brandon Mund, Jenny Jaeckle, Steve Quidley, and Timothy Bray.