Council waives first reading on zoning changes covering electronic billboards, backyard setbacks and mobile food vendors

The City of Lemoore presented an ordinance-based zone text amendment at the March 18 meeting that bundled three distinct changes to the municipal code: standards for electronic billboards, adjustments to certain single-family rear-yard setbacks for attached patio covers, and revised separation rules for semipermanent mobile food vendors.

Electronic billboards: City planner Steve Brandt told the council the ordinance would allow only electronic billboards, limit new installations to a maximum of four citywide, and confine potential locations to corridors along Highway 198 and Highway 41. Proposed rules would require billboards to sit within 200 feet of the highway, be at least 1,000 feet from other billboards and 500 feet from highway-oriented signs, meet construction and brightness standards and proceed through a conditional-use permit to the planning commission. Brandt emphasized the code distinguishes highway-oriented signs (business signs tied to a single property) from billboards (for rent) and that existing billboards that predate the ban would remain legal nonconforming uses.

Backyard setbacks and attached patio covers: Brandt said the amendment would let certain patio covers attached to houses be placed closer to rear lot lines (reducing the effective setback from 10 feet to 5 feet for attached patio covers in the affected zones), responding to recent requests from homeowners who could not otherwise build covers because sliding doors and house footprints left only small rear-yard distances. Council members debated lot-size tradeoffs and permitting/enforcement concerns; staff said the change was intended only to ease restrictions on attached patios and that the city would continue to enforce permit requirements when complaints arise.

Semipermanent mobile food vendors: The proposed text would reduce the required separation from brick-and-mortar food businesses from 1,000 feet to 500 feet. Staff said the change aims to create more options for food trucks while preserving distance between a truck and nearby restaurants; the ordinance would retain the ability for the planning commission to approve food-truck groupings via conditional-use permits, with owner notification for hearings.

Council action: After public comment and discussion on all three topics, the council voted to waive the first reading of ordinance 2025-02 (the zone text amendment) and to proceed. Councilmembers voted 4-0 to waive the first reading; staff noted the planning commission and public-notice processes remain part of the conditional-use permit steps.

Ending: Staff agreed to return with follow-up information and encouraged councilmembers to provide specific questions in advance of the next appearance.