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Planning board recommends updated sign ordinance to commission; adds size, height and removal provisions
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of a rewritten sign ordinance for the Town of Melbourne Beach that adds a chart of allowable sign types, sizes and durations and a provision allowing municipal removal of certain signs; the board forwarded the recommendation to the Town Commission by voice vote.
The Planning and Zoning Board of the Town of Melbourne Beach voted to recommend that the Town Commission adopt a rewritten sign ordinance that updates size, height and duration limits and adds a municipal removal provision.
Town Attorney Brian Knight told the board the revision responds to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Reed v. Town of Gilbert and the commission's direction to bring the town code into compliance. Knight said the earlier ordinance was drafted before that decision and the draft before the board was revised "pursuant to that and pursuant to the direction from the commission." The draft places the sign rules in the town's land-development regulation and provides a chart that lists common sign types, maximum dimensions, and permitted display durations.
During discussion board members noted a few specifics contained in the draft: a garage-sale sign would be limited to one sign not larger than four square feet; height and size requirements are enumerated across categories so a 12-foot garage-sale sign would no longer be permitted; and the town will have authority to remove signs under certain conditions in the new draft. A board member asked whether a "coming soon" sign would violate code; the board was told that common temporary signs such as "coming soon" are not a code violation under the draft.
A member moved to recommend approval of the ordinance to the Town Commission; another member seconded the motion and the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.
Board members and staff observed that even if the board recommends adoption, an adopted sign ordinance will not take effect immediately — sign-ordinance amendments typically require time for codification and implementation and the attorney noted it could take a couple of months for the new rules to take effect.
The Planning and Zoning Board forwarded the recommendation; the Town Commission will consider final adoption and any effective-date provisions.
