Board approves sign exception, forms committees to revise sign rules and compile building inventory
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Summary
The Main Street Advisory Board approved a sign‑height exception for a projecting sign at 101 W. Main St., and volunteers agreed to research updates to the Main Street sign ordinance and to undertake a downtown building inventory using Downtown TX and BoomStracker tools.
The Main Street Advisory Board voted to accept a projecting sign already installed at 101 W. Main Street and agreed to form volunteer teams to update the Main Street sign ordinance and to compile a downtown building inventory.
A staff introduction explained the sign application was for a projecting sign at 101 W. Main Street and that “the sign is actually already installed,” meaning the request before the board was retrospective paperwork to regularize the sign. A board member moved to accept the sign and grant an exception to the dimensional standard; the motion received a second and passed by voice vote.
Board members then discussed updating the Main Street sign ordinance to clarify terminology (for example, how the city defines “canopies” or awnings versus other overhangs), to align Main Street guidance with the city sign ordinance, and to improve the sign application so it includes all details staff needs to make decisions. April volunteered to lead the sign‑ordinance research with assistance from Jonathan; the group will compare existing local language with models from peer cities and return monthly recommendations to the board for consolidation and legal review before any city council submittal.
On building inventory, staff described existing data sources — Downtown TX and a recently launched Main Street America tool called BoomStracker — and recommended a tablet‑based canvass of downtown properties to collect current data on occupants, employee counts and recent investments. Jonathan volunteered to assist in leading the inventory effort; staff said they would provide logins and a canvassing protocol and aim to maintain quarterly updates.
Why it matters: the sign exception addresses a specific installed sign but the ordinance review aims to reduce future ambiguity; the building inventory will give the Main Street program baseline data reporters need for quarterly reports and for tracking investment and business openings and closings.
No legal ordinance change was adopted at this meeting; volunteers will develop proposed ordinance language and an updated application form, and staff will seek legal review and then present any recommended ordinance to city council when ready.
