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Allen council adopts amendment to ease rules for illuminated signs near homes
Summary
The Allen City Council adopted an ordinance amending the Allen Land Development Code to move and relax certain restrictions on illuminated signs near single‑family residential districts, permitting internally illuminated signs that do not glare into residences or distract drivers.
The Allen City Council adopted an ordinance Thursday to amend the Allen Land Development Code (ALDC) so illuminated signs may be allowed closer to single‑family residential districts under limits meant to prevent glare and driver distraction.
Miss Amend, a planning staff member, told the council the change moves illuminated‑sign rules from a "prohibited signs" section to the general sign regulations and gives staff and applicants more flexibility. "Currently in section 7.09.4 subsection 5 it states that any illuminated sign within a 50 feet of any single family residential district is prohibited," she said, adding the rule created a hardship and produced more variance requests.
The amendment adds a new subsection specifying that "signs or other advertising structure shall be internally illuminated and may not glare into any residential premises or distract operators of vehicles or pedestrians on the public right of way," and allows illuminated signs within 50 feet of residential districts provided the sign does not directly face single‑family homes. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at its April 15, 2025, meeting, and staff recommended approval to the council.
Council members moved to adopt the ordinance identified as No. 41 53‑5‑25; a council member made a motion to adopt and another council member seconded. The council recorded no votes in opposition and the item passed.
The ordinance edits are limited to how illuminated signs are regulated in proximity to single‑family residential districts; the council did not change broader sign standards in other sections of the ALDC during the discussion. Staff said the revision is intended to reduce the number of variances and provide clearer, administrable standards for illuminated signs near residences.
The council completed the public hearing with no registered public speakers on this item and moved on to other agenda matters.
