Council sets March 31 public hearing on large zoning rewrite, moves sign rules into zoning code

Homewood City Council on March 17 voted unanimously to send a comprehensive package of changes to the city—s zoning ordinance, including the sign ordinance folded into the zoning code, to a public hearing on March 31.

City planning staff member Mrs. Smith presented the package and told the council the draft adds new definitions and new procedural requirements; among the substantive changes are mandatory boundary surveys for most property improvements, a new topographical-survey requirement to measure maximum detached-house roof height from existing grade, clarified rules for courtyard pools and accessory structures, and several revisions to landscaping and mechanical-equipment placement.

The changes also move the sign ordinance into the zoning ordinance and add several new sign provisions. Mrs. Smith said the draft bans billboards, forbids certain rope-style LED lights and updates enforcement and administrative sections. The draft limits residential temporary yard signs to two per front yard, allows certain temporary nonresidential signs in commercial districts, and creates a master-sign-plan process for large developments.

Why it matters: The package would change what applicants must submit before construction and would alter how the city treats temporary and…