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3 <br /> <br />width as an input. Should they look to exceed that measurement/allotted signage, Staff will <br />enforce the full requirements of a Comprehensive Sign Plan outlined in the Code. <br /> <br />Staff did not propose to change the allowed size of freestanding signs or wall signs within any of the <br />districts. The “Gross Silhouette Area” is a more convoluted measurement for sign allotment than Staff <br />have seen elsewhere, but it is not difficult to measure and, from Staff reviews so far, typically provides <br />a more lenient/generous allotment of sign area to businesses. <br /> <br />Temporary Signs and Noncommercial Speech <br />The Sign Code currently features standards/sentences related to temporary signs in a few different <br />places. Additionally, aspects of the temporary sign code are also outdated due to State and Federal <br />Court rulings over the last decade. <br /> <br />Organization <br />1. Staff created a stand-alone section for temporary signs which are currently bunched into the <br />“General Provision” standards. This change should improve the readability of these specific <br />regulations and make them easier to locate. <br /> <br />Standards <br />Staff have proposed the following changes/clarifications to Temporary Sign standards: <br /> <br />2. The current Code has language carving out special provisions for “Campaign Signs” due to a <br />State preemption law; however, State Courts have provided a broader definition that <br />“noncommercial speech” is protected and allowed in an unlimited size/volume during the <br />defined campaign season window, not just signs supporting a specific candidate or ballot <br />measure. The City Code has been updated to reflect that. <br />a. Additionally, the City Attorney stated that the City should provide a firm number of <br />signs allowed on a property which Staff have set at three (3). The Planning Commission <br />were comfortable with capping noncommercial signs at three (3) <br /> <br />3. The current Code permits banner signs to be up to 36 square feet but holds other types of <br />temporary signs to be 32 square feet. This regulation seems needless and unnecessary. The <br />Planning Commission requested it be made 36 square feet regardless of the sign material. <br /> <br />4. The current Code has strict provisions related to the number of temporary sign permits that can <br />be pulled on multi-tenant property at the same time. The standard is rather arbitrary, difficult to <br />monitor, and such signage has not been a problem for the City. Staff will treat each business the <br />same regardless of their multi-tenant status. <br /> <br />5. The current Code provides for “bonus” temporary sign allowances during a business’s first <br />year, but does not state exactly how much of a bonus is given. Staff have written it to allow <br />such businesses an additional four (4) permits for their first year of operation. The Planning <br />Commission requested that the required 30-day gap between replacement of temporary signs <br />also be removed for new businesses to maximize the efficacy/benefit of this provision. <br /> <br />6. The current Code is explicit in prohibiting temporary signage from being used to advertise a <br />business generally, meaning that they must advertise a specific product/sale/promotion/etc. <br />Historically, this provision is not something that the City has strictly enforced. Staff have <br />largely removed the provision in the code. <br />a. Staff believes that the standard is trickier to enforce. The Planning Commission did not <br />express that the provision was necessary.