Bristol City Council adopts sign rules, allows auto repair in M2 zone and approves multiple contracts

Bristol City Council on April 1 approved multiple ordinances and resolutions affecting zoning, public works and city contracts, including adoption of a new sign ordinance and a zoning change to allow automotive repair as a permitted use in the M2 industrial district.

The council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 25-4, which creates a new chapter of the zoning code dedicated to sign regulation and largely preserves rules for permanent signs while tightening rules for temporary signs, adding a definition for off-premise signage and prohibiting drone signs and advertising “sky dancers.” Planning staff said the work began in 2020 and the planning commission recommended the ordinance after more than 18 meetings and two work sessions.

Council also approved Ordinance 25-5 to amend Chapter 5 of the zoning ordinance to permit automotive repair and maintenance in the M2 zone. The measure passed on second reading following a public hearing; one council member abstained on the second-reading vote.

Council approved a first-reading ordinance to update pollutant limits in the city sewer code (Ordinance 25-6) after staff said the changes reflect periodic engineering reviews of plant capacity, industrial dischargers and state and EPA expectations. A rezoning request (Ordinance 25-7) to reclassify parcels along…