Liberty University’s monogram will be illuminated until 11 p.m. every night

With plans to illuminate the LU monogram on Candler’s Mountain, Liberty University will continue to signal its presence in the city of Lynchburg. 

However, not everyone in the community has been quick to accept this project. 

According to Liberty General Counsel David Corry, the request for a permit to light the monogram was recently denied by City Zoning Administrator Kevin Henry due to his belief that the lighting would transform the landscaping into an unpermitted sign. That decision was appealed by Liberty.

Corry said there was also discussion among members of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)as to whether or not the lighting would be environmentally appropriate or create light pollution. However, Corry said that this was out of line.  

“All that discussion was irrelevant and inappropriate,” Corry said. “The only question for the BZA was if Henry was correct in denying the electrical permit.” 

After new evidence from planning documents signed by the previous zoning administrator, Rob Fowler, was brought to the table, the BZA later voted to overturn Henry’s decision, as it was determined that lights had always been included in the plans for the monogram.  

Liberty’s goal is to have the monogram lit by the end of 2018. (Photo provided)

To bring Liberty even closer to its goal Lynchburg City Council met in a closed session Sept. 11 and decided not to appeal the BZA decision to allow the lighting of the monogram. Even so, Corry said two citizens have indicated that they are upset with this decision and that this is not the first time complaints about the monogram’s prominence have come up. 

“Back in 2006, when the monogram was first approved, we received many complaints from locals,” Corry said. “There is a certain percentage of the Lynchburg population that would prefer we’d have a quieter presence, and to some, they just saw (the monogram) as a visual blight.”

City Attorney Walter Erwin said that one of the reasons citizens might be upset about the illumination of the logo is because of how much more visible it will be at night. 

“A lot of people routinely drive by that area of the city at night, and it is possible that there are some who may feel aggrieved by the decision made by the BZA,” Erwin said. 

However, Corry assured that the goal for the illuminated monogram is to achieve more of an ambient glow rather than a stark bright light on the mountain. He said plans are for it only to be illuminated until 11 p.m. each evening. 

Liberty’s monogram can be seen for miles during the day. (Photo by Leah Seavers)

According to Corry, the lighting would also promote more safety on the mountain. Electricity has only recently become readily accessible to install lighting for the monogram, which is why the project did not progress sooner. 

“There’s really not much lighting on the mountain right now, and many students spend a lot of time up there,” Corry said. “I just think it would make it a lot safer.” 

A 30-day period running from Aug. 28 to Sept. 27 gave citizens the opportunity to appeal the BZA decision. On Sept. 29, after the appeal period closed, Corry said there was no record of any appeal being filed. The $100,000 project is officially approved, and Liberty can now receive a permit to light the monogram. 

While an exact date has not yet been released for the completion of the project, Corry said the goal is to have it completed by the end of 2018.

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