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8 <br /> <br /> <br />Staff believe that these proposed measures improve the appearance of the billboards within the City, <br />provide more functionality to the owners, more opportunities for community messaging/landmarking, <br />and ensure safety by limiting glare and the manner in which messages are displayed. <br /> <br />Other Changes to the Sign Code <br />1. Definitions were added to the Sign Code Chapter. Definitions are vital for any zoning code <br />because they are an important reference when disputes arise over the application or <br />interpretation of a provision. Reviewing older iterations of the Code, definitions for signs were <br />part of Little Canada’s Zoning Code until they were removed during the update a few years <br />ago. <br />a. Similarly, a Purpose section of the chapter was added which can help the City in the <br />event litigation is ever pursued. The proposed section was crafted by the City Attorney. <br /> <br />2. With the addition of definitions, some terms found in the Chapter were consolidated/made <br />consistent. An example would be the use of “Public” and “Governmental” which the Code <br />seemed to refer to as the same thing. We used definitions to distinguish between other <br />mentioned sign types such as “Business” and “Advertising” signs. <br /> <br />3. The Chapter’s current non-conforming section is a mix of redundant and illegal. The City <br />cannot legally require that non-conforming signs be brought into compliance in a certain <br />timeframe. The non-conforming chapter of the Zoning Code is written in a compliant manner <br />and such signs will be held to those standards. <br /> <br />4. Sections were renumbered due to restructuring and to match the organizational style of other <br />Chapters of the Zoning Code. <br /> <br /> <br />Recommendation <br />City Staff is supportive of the ordinance as presented but is eager to get the Planning Commission and <br />City Council’s perspective on the proposed changes. The Planning Commission should review the <br />changes and provide feedback and recommendations to Staff for amendments/changes as it sees fit. If <br />amendments/changes are requested, the recommendations for amendments should be included in the <br />Planning Commission’s ultimate motion.