Brushing aside opposition from neighborhood groups, Ikea is seeking approval from the Tampa City Council to erect a 125-foot (40 meters) pole sign at its Ybor City store, in Florida, U.S.

The Swedish retail giant wants to install the 12-story sign on its Adamo Drive and North 22nd Street property, topped by a three-sided sign with the store's logo. It would include 600-square-feet of signage at its peak, twice the size of Ikea's existing signs.

Representatives of the area's eight neighborhood groups met with Ikea executives a few weeks ago, but were unable to reach an agreement or come up with an alternative plan.

Thursday night, the company's request goes before the city council for a vote.

Ikea officials say they are trying to improve the retail store's visibility, particularly along Interstate 4 and other roadways, to lure shoppers from across the Tampa Bay area.

Tony LaColla, president of the Historic Ybor Neighborhood Association, said the company doesn't need the added signage. He and representatives of other Ybor neighborhood groups worry that the sign would set a "dangerous precedent."

"If Ikea receives a waiver what's to say Target, Wal-Mart or even a Publix couldn't receive the same waiver, then we have 125-foot tall signs popping up all over Tampa," he said. "That sign might work for a suburban community but not the urban core."

The store already has a 35-foot-high, three-sided pole sign with an exemption from the city's 20-foot limit on pole signs. The store also has 10-foot-tall signs on the building.

Ikea floated the idea of a bigger sign earlier this year but got a cool reception from several city council members -- particularly John Dingfelder and Linda Saul-Sena -- and never pursued it. Both resigned to run for the Hillsborough County Commission.

The company has also tried to raise its profile in other ways, including a proposal to city officials to rename a section of 22nd Street that runs past the store "Ikea Way" and add street signs along Interstate 4 directing passing motorists to the store.

But the company hasn't yet submitted a proposal for the street renaming and the Florida Department of Transportation rejected the company's request to add highway signs.

The city council meets at 6 p.m. in old city hall at 315 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown. The issue is one of the first items on council's evening agenda.
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