City of Denison planning staff told the Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 14 that the city is undertaking a comprehensive rewrite of Chapter 19, the city’s sign ordinance, and is recommending creation of a sign board composed of planning commissioners to consider sign-waiver requests.

The staff update, delivered during the meeting’s staff reports, said the existing sign ordinance has not been updated since 2013 and that the rewrite will add detailed rules for sign types, minimum and maximum dimensions, permit requirements, and stronger code-enforcement authority for dilapidated or obsolete signs. “We have been rewriting chapter 19, which pertains to signs,” the planning staff member said during the meeting. The staff member added that the rewrite is going before City Council on Nov. 3 and that this is the second attempt to bring it to council.

Under the proposal described to the commission, the city’s building official — Kirk — would first determine whether a sign-waiver applicant meets the ordinance’s criteria for an undue-hardship waiver. If the building official finds the applicant meets those requirements, the matter would be forwarded to the sign board for decision. Legal counsel recommended that the sign board be staffed by members of the Planning and Zoning Commission so the board would function similarly to a zoning board of adjustments when considering variances, staff said.

Staff described the proposed process as likely to mirror procedures used by neighboring cities: items for both the Planning and Zoning Commission and a separate adjustment board would be placed on the same meeting agenda so the city can hear related matters together. Staff also said the ordinance will include graphics and tables for different sign types and that council review may prompt further changes.

Staff warned commissioners to expect questions and possible pushback during council consideration. “We anticipate some pushback, questions. That’s how it should be,” one commissioner said. Staff emphasized the rewrite is intended to modernize rules to match Denison’s growth and redevelopment and to give clearer enforcement authority. No formal vote on the ordinance or sign board was taken at the Oct. 14 commission meeting; the item was presented as an informational update.

The next step staff identified is formal consideration by City Council on Nov. 3. If council provides direction, staff said it will return to the commission with any revisions.