Gaithersburg Chipotle restaurant's proposed sign must be approved by city (Photo)

A standard sign planned for installation at a Gaithersburg Chipotle restaurant ran into an interesting regulatory snag in the city's zoning code. This Chipotle is located in the Gaithersburg Square shopping center, at 564 N. Frederick Avenue.

The iconic Chipotle pepper on the sign doesn't necessarily run afoul of city laws. It's just that the code demands any sign featuring an icon "in the form of any person, animal, vegetable, fruit, product, or portion of any of the foregoing...shall require prior approval of the planning commission."

As the pepper is indeed a vegetable, it must go through this additional approval step.

All indications are that the sign will be approved, as city staff are recommending the commission do so at its meeting at 7:30 PM tonight at City Hall.

Image via Gaithersburg Planning Department