Resident asks Oakwood to clarify enforcement of Title 12 for nonprofit youth signs

Oakwood — Jeremiah Burgess, a resident, told the Oakwood City Council on Sept. 15 that he and other residents received zoning-violation letters saying yard signs for youth activities were considered advertisements under Title 12. Burgess asked the council to reconsider enforcement and to work with the zoning commission to allow certain nonprofit youth signs temporarily.

Burgess said he received a letter on Aug. 20 saying his sign was in violation because it was deemed an advertisement that promoted an organization or an activity requiring sign-up. He said he spoke with City staffer Sarah Valentine, who told him she was contacting residents with such signs, and that similar letters were issued to parents who displayed Patterson Park baseball signs. Burgess said other nonprofit signs, such as library or festival notices, had been treated as appropriate, and he urged the city to clarify whether youth-activity signs should be exempt or treated differently.

Burgess also noted the presence of a QR code on his sign that links to a website with information but does not solicit payment. He said the QR code should not automatically make a sign commercial. "The sign is not, I would say, not a commercial advertisement," Burgess said, adding that the code only links to information and does not request money.

Mayor William D. Duncan responded that council discussed the matter at a work session and would ask the law director to review Title 12 and craft clarifying language. The mayor said any formal change to the code would need to proceed through the planning commission. The transcript does not record an ordinance, vote, or timeline for revisions.

Burgess asked that the council consider short-term reinterpretation and longer-term language changes to allow certain nonprofit organizations temporary yard signage; councilors did not adopt a policy at the meeting and directed staff and the law director to review the zoning language.