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Lexington council to revise wall-sign definition; asks staff to draft temporary window-sign rules
Summary
Council agreed unanimously to send a planning commission recommendation to the March meeting to clarify the town's definition of a "wall sign" so signs painted on or affixed to windows may be enforced, and asked staff to return with proposed temporary-window signage rules and outreach to businesses.
The Lexington Town Council voted unanimously Jan. 28 to place an amendment to the town sign ordinance on the council agenda in March after the planning commission recommended adding language to the definition of a "wall sign" to include signs "painted on or affixed to the inside or outside of the glass so as to be fully visible from off of the property." Mayor Hazel Livingston led the vote.
The change matters because, staff said, the current sign code does not explicitly treat some interior window clings and full-window covers as part of a business's wall-sign allotment, so code enforcement has limited ability to require their removal. "Without having something in the ordinance to enforce, it's difficult to get those people that have taken advantage of the good faith to remove the window signage," Jessica Labran, planning and building director, told council.
Labran told council the planning commission voted unanimously in December to add the clarifying language and recommended a 30-day compliance window for businesses currently in violation. Several council members said 30 days is likely too short for many brick-and-mortar businesses and urged longer transition periods. "I do feel like it's such a large number that we're gonna need to give longer than that ... I'm open from 90 to even ... 6 months," Council Member Todd Carnes said, citing cost and safety concerns. Council Member Todd Lyle also asked staff to consider a longer timeline to allow businesses to comply without undue hardship.
Council members separated two issues: (1) changing the wall-sign definition so interior/affixed window signs clearly count toward a business's wall-sign allotment, and (2) whether temporary window signs should be explicitly allowed and regulated by size, duration and an easy permit process. Several members asked staff to draft a short, online permit and to explore temporary-window limits such as a maximum square footage or percentage of glass area. Labran noted the town's temporary-sign permit currently allows up to 32 square feet for banners and that new businesses receive an extra 30 days in their first year.
Council asked staff to return the definition amendment to planning commission for refined wording on temporary signs, and to circulate the draft to the Small Business Advisory Committee for feedback before the March action. Council also directed staff to notify the business community that the council is considering changes and to discourage businesses from purchasing new full-window clings until the ordinance is settled.
Council emphasized enforcement concerns and safety. Mayor Hazel Livingston and others cited public-safety observations from police that fully covered windows make it harder for officers to see inside storefronts during incidents. Labran said code already exempts small identifying signs (about 2 square feet) and allows certain directional or product signs under separate limits.
What happens next: staff will revise the ordinance language for planning commission review at its February meeting, prepare an updated temporary-sign permit form for review, and mail or email notice to affected businesses. The sign-definition amendment will return to council in March as a formal agenda item with public hearing and required two readings.
Votes at a glance: the council voted to place the planning commission's sign-definition recommendation on the March council agenda; the motion carried unanimously.
