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Commission recommends changes to sign code; limits for farm‑to‑market roads split from interstates
Summary
After a workshop on proposed Unified Development Code sign amendments, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval to City Council with a change to separate farm‑to‑market roads from interstates and to cap freestanding sign height on those roads at 35 feet; council will consider the ordinance language next.
The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing, workshop and discussion on proposed changes to Article 11 (Signs) and related UDC sections and voted 7‑0 to recommend the amendments to City Council with one change: staff should separate farm‑to‑market (FM) roads from interstate classification for freestanding sign height and set a maximum height of 35 feet for FM roads.
Planner Samuel Hosseini said staff’s amendments—developed after multiple council workshops beginning in November—aim to simplify, reorganize and clarify sign rules, create consistency with other UDC articles, and make targeted adjustments for wall, freestanding and temporary signs. He illustrated key proposals such as allowing an allotted square footage per façade (for example, giving larger buildings a total façade allowance so multiple wall sign components are allowed within that total), combining freestanding sign types into one section, and creating a waiver process for sign dimensional requests to be heard by the Planning and Zoning Commission rather than the Board of Adjustment.
Hosseini summarized examples and rationale: larger buildings (over 100,000 sq ft) could qualify for additional wall sign area; monument signs remain limited in height and area; multi‑tenant freestanding signs would be allowed larger dimensions than under the current code with a rule that no single tenant occupy more than 50% of the freestanding sign area; electronic sign standards (brightness, change interval and prohibited copy speed) were retained; and temporary‑sign limits (feather flag duration, a 14‑day cap for certain temporary flags, prohibition on inflatable balloons, and a recurring event permit for up to 15 events a year) reflect council direction from earlier workshops.
Several commissioners questioned the proposal to treat FM roads the same as interstates for freestanding sign height. Commissioner Wallace said it “just seems inappropriate to have signs the same height, potentially, as the interstate.” After discussion, Commissioner Wallace moved to recommend approval with the change to break FM roads out of the interstate category and set a 35‑foot maximum; Commissioner McMaster seconded the motion and the commission recorded 7 ayes, none opposed.
Hosseini told the commission the amendments were reviewed with the city attorney for state‑law compliance and that the proposals are intended to be more user‑friendly for residents, applicants and staff. The commission’s recommendation and the redlined UDC amendments will go to City Council for ordinance drafting and final action.
