DAPHNE, Ala.—Academy Sports and Outdoors has made preliminary plans to locate a store in Daphne, but the chain is requesting sings that are not allowed under the city’s sign ordinance.

The retailer had previously approached the planning commission to come into Daphne and Councilwoman Cathy Barnette said the commission made speedy concessions to accommodate the retailer’s needs. Academy did not locate where it originally planned and now wants to locate east of Mobile Infirmary Medical Center along U.S. Highway 90 near Jubilee Square Shopping Center.

The retailer has asked for an exception to be made to allow for up to a 90-foot pylon sign to place along the interstate so the retailer can compete with other sports-goods retailers in the area. The high sign is necessary, Academy representative Thomas Hickman said, because the store will be located behind a 500-foot right of way along the interstate, which is densely populated with high trees.

The commission did not vote on the matter and instead deemed any exception made to the sign ordinance would have to be decided on by the city council.

Many agreed Academy would be an asset to the city, but commissioners were unsure if the city could allow what the retailer was asking for.

“We would love for Academy to come to Daphne,” Commissioner Victoria Phelps said. “We appreciate that Academy sees something in Daphne and wants to locate here.”

“I am not a proponent of signage,” Barnette said. She said she would like to see Academy locate here, but she does not want the city to make hasty decisions residents will have to live with.

Daphne business owner Kevin Spriggs said he also had a problem with the proposed sign.

“It isn’t big enough,” he said.