The Tryon Seventh Day Adventist Church will likely be asking the Town of Tryon for an amendment to its sign ordinance to allow for a new sign.

Tryon Town Council met Aug. 18 and heard from church officials, who said the current sign is crumbling and a new one is needed. The new proposed sign is 46 square feet including a scroll at the top, which is smaller than the current sign but does not comply with the town’s current ordinance.

Church elder Glenn Cantrell said the current sign is 50 ft. off the road and the church needs advertising like everyone else.

Cantrell said the church is proud to be a part of Tryon’s cultural life and provides classes, a co-op that provides bulk food, veterans dinners, yard sales and vacation bible school open to all children, among other activities for the community.

“All of these we advertise on the marquee,” Cantrell said. “It’s very important for us to get information out to the people.”

The church was asking the town for a special consideration to allow the new sign, but commissioners said they can’t make special accommodations for one that they can’t do for all.

Tryon Mayor Jim Wright asked if the town’s planning board has reviewed the new sign.

Tryon Community Development Director Paula Kempton said they did go before the planning board but with a different sign proposal.

Tryon Planning Board chair John Walters said town’s current ordinance allows for a 32 square foot sign in the church’s district.

Tryon attorney Bailey Nager said Tryon’s ordinance does not allow for special exemptions. He said the town could change the ordinance, but it would have to change it for everyone in the district.

Commissioner Bill Ingham said he understands where the church is coming from, mentioning the church’s large grassy area and having a lot of acreage.

“It makes sense to have a bigger sign,” said Ingham.

Commissioner Roy Miller mentioned a sign across the street from the church at the Mimosa Inn that is a fairly large sign.

Others said the sign at Mimosa is also a non-conforming sign.

Ingham suggested the town amend the ordinance to include verbiage for acreage.

“I understand what the board has to do,” said Ingham, “but we’re neighbors. Somehow we have to work with our neighbors.”

Nager said the proper procedure is for a request for a sign ordinance amendment be made, which first goes to the planning board. The planning board would then make a recommendation either for or against the amendment and council can either vote to approve the amendment or not.