CC PACKET 06272023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

3. Temporary Signs Commentary and Code Language. This section addresses the use, location, duration, and exceptions to the display of temporary signs. Currently, the City’s Code makes no separate provision for temporary sign display, and as such, they are prohibited by definition. Nonetheless, temporary signs exist and are utilized by many property owners, both in commercial and residential settings. While not defined as temporary, there are two exceptions to this “prohibition”. The first is a blanket allowance for all properties to display one 6‐square foot sign with “non‐commercial” speech. These signs are allowed without permit, and can be displayed year‐round with little oversight. The interest here is to promote free speech opportunities for all community members. The second exception is specific to political campaign signs, which creates a carve‐out for the display of such signs around election periods – this exception is mostly a requirement of state law. The general regulations proposed below create a set of rules that apply to the display of temporary signs in all non‐residential areas (commercial, industrial, institutional, etc.). The limitations create a permit requirement, allowing up to 2 such signs of 32 square feet or less, 8 feet in height or less, with a maximum of three periods of display for up to 30 days each – a maximum total of 90 days per parcel per year. There is one carve‐out for additional signage when an enterprise is opening or closing business for an additional 30 day period. Because of the limitations on regulating content, the City may not restrict the messaging on these signs – instead, the regulations are limited to “time, place, and manner” categories. Thus, limitations can restrict the duration, the setbacks, and the size or type of display, as examples. The second set of regulations addresses three special circumstances that are commonly used exceptions to the general prohibitions or regulations in the remainder of the new Section. These are proposed in the “Signs Without Permits” Section 155.23 as follows: G. One additional temporary sign displayed on any parcel of up to 10 square feet that addresses events on public property. This attempts to carve out an allowance for property owners to notify neighbors of public events, with a limitation of a total display of up to 28 days annually. H. An allowance for public property to display temporary signs for public events without a time limitation. I. An allowance for residential property to display temporary signs for during an active garage sale. This allowance is for the site in question only, not for off‐site displays. Again, while the city can not regulate the content of the sign (such as require that it is only a “Garage Sale” sign), it can regulate time and duration. There are a few classes of temporary signs that are often displayed, but which this set of proposed regulations do not permit. These include the off‐site temporary signs related to garage sales and real estate sales. While these are often employed by the selling parties, the city cannot regulate the content of the message. If the off‐site allowance is opened up for these 38