Planning commission backs sign and outdoor‑lighting code amendments, sends items to city council

The Wilson County Planning Commission voted to recommend amendments to the city’s zoning code that update sign regulations and outdoor‑lighting standards. Staff said the sign lighting items had been pared back after a city council work session and that the lighting changes reflect council direction.

Planning staff explained the signage amendment is limited to fixing nine remaining items in Title 14, Chapter 8, Section 13, after the council rescinded prior sign‑lighting language. The commission recommended the ordinance for council consideration; first reading and public hearing are scheduled for Oct. 7, with a second reading Oct. 21.

Separately, staff presented a proposed amendment to Title 14, Chapter 8, Section 9 (outdoor lighting) to tighten rules for floodlights, spotlights and wall packs so light does not shine onto streets or residential properties and to prohibit rope lights and similar decorative fixtures on commercial facades. Staff said existing lumen‑count limits adopted in 2019 are difficult to enforce in the field and the new language focuses on aiming and off‑property illumination rather than strict lumen counts.

A commissioner asked whether digital sign brightness issues had been addressed by prior council actions; staff responded that prior lumen limits remained but proved difficult to enforce with varying light meters and that the proposed rules would better enable enforcement by controlling angles and spill onto neighboring properties. The commission voted to recommend both amendments to the city council for public hearings and readings.