Waukee council approves first reading to amend sign code to allow limited tenant panels on association signs

The Waukee City Council on June 16 held a public hearing and approved first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 167 (section 167.13) to allow limited tenant panels on association identification signs in commercial and industrial developments.

City staff said the amendment would align association signs with standalone monument-sign rules — including standard setbacks, a 60-square-foot maximum, a 15-foot maximum height and masonry materials — and would permit tenant panels limited to 70% of the sign area and only for tenants within the development. Andy (staff member) said the signs would need to sit on an outlot owned or maintained by the owners’ association or be in an easement owned and maintained by the association.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval at its previous meeting and staff recommended the council hold the public hearing and approve the first consideration. There were no public comments. The council voted in favor on first reading (roll-call votes recorded as yes by Council member Kron, Council member Grove, Council member Sinclair and Council member Battenberg). The ordinance will return for a second reading at a future meeting.

City staff described the intent as giving tenants that do not front a public thoroughfare a limited way to identify themselves on multi-parcel commercial developments, citing examples such as the Waukee Town Center along Southeast Alice's Road and Hickman Road. No changes to monument-sign dimensional standards were proposed beyond applying the same baseline standards to association signs and limiting tenant panel area.

The amendment was introduced as a first reading; no final adoption occurred at the June 16 meeting. Any speaker or business seeking to add tenant panels must still meet the code’s location, ownership and maintenance requirements and obtain required permits.