Loxahatchee Groves committee backs drafting of master sign‑plan language for commercial properties

Loxahatchee Groves' Unified Land Development Code Committee on Monday asked staff to draft model language for a master sign plan that would apply to multi‑tenant commercial properties and planned developments so applicants can gain building permits more quickly if they follow an approved plan. The committee also discussed how and when the town should require such plans and what details — colors, locations, elevations and site plans — applicants should provide.

Why it matters: A master sign plan can give landlords and tenants clearer rules and speed the permitting process by pre‑approving sign locations, materials and basic colors; it can also be used to preserve a more consistent look for new commercial centers as the town grows.

The staff member who presented the topic said the master plan concept is “tenant friendly” because “if a tenant comes in and they follow the rules of the master sign plan, then they don't need any other approvals. Right. They go directly to building permit.” The presenter said examples from other Florida jurisdictions show plans can be as brief as a few pages or as detailed as full color elevations and that town staff would tailor the level of detail to local needs.

Committee members asked how a master plan differs from ordinary sign approvals. The staff presenter said an approved master plan is typically submitted for a property with multiple tenants (shopping centers, medical plazas or multi‑building sites) and, if approved, lets subsequent tenants follow the plan rather than repeating the full review. The committee discussed whether to require master plans only for planned unit developments (PUDs) or for any site with multiple tenants and whether to include numeric limits tied to parcel size or building square footage.

Members also asked about who would review plans. The presenter confirmed the usual process would send master plans to the planning and zoning board for a recommendation and then to the town council for final action; the committee discussed whether an architectural review board would be a useful alternative in the future.

Committee members asked staff to bring back draft ordinance language and sample submittals (site plan, elevations and renderings) for the group to markup before forwarding recommendations to council. A staff member also said the town’s existing Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) and Municode online contain the current sign regulations and that the committee should expect staff to cross‑reference any master plan language with those underlying rules.

The committee signaled consensus to proceed with drafting. Staff said it will prepare proposed language and examples for the committee to review at the next meeting.

What the committee did not decide: No ordinance was adopted and no numeric limits were set. Committee members did not finalize whether the master sign plan requirement would apply only to PUDs or to all multi‑tenant properties; that question will return with draft language.

Next steps: Staff will prepare draft master sign‑plan language and example submittals for the committee's review at a future meeting.