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Consultant outlines Phase 2 sign-code rewrite; public engagement and corner/wayfinding issues on deck
Summary
A consultant gave an overview of Phase 2 of a sign-code update that will reshape how the city regulates number, size and types of signs; public engagement is scheduled May–July with surveys, three open houses and board briefings.
Consultants from Complete Cities Planning Group presented the scope and public-engagement plan Tuesday for Phase 2 of the city’s sign-code update, a follow-up to Phase 1 changes driven by U.S. Supreme Court guidance on content-neutral sign rules.
Jeff Cadems, principal with Complete Cities, told the commission Phase 1 addressed the constitutional constraints identified in Reid v. Town of Gilbert (content-based regulation) and moved the city to regulate signs by physical characteristics rather than content or function. Phase 2 will tackle how many signs are allowed, sign allowances by building context (corner vs. interior frontage), legibility standards and whether some temporary or specialty sign types (feathers, banners) should be allowed or limited.
The consultants plan broad public outreach: two online surveys (separate resident and business surveys), a project page with a QR code distributed via city communications, three open houses, and presentations to boards and stakeholder groups including the Planning and Zoning Board, Board of Adjustment, Economic Development Advisory Board, Chamber of Commerce and local HOA groups. Cadems said most front-end engagement is scheduled for May through July, with draft regulations to be circulated later and additional back-end outreach before commission hearings.
Commissioners noted the long history of sign disputes in Sunrise — including debates over pole signs, neon-filled storefronts and monument directory signs — and urged the consultants to prioritize clarity for small shopping centers where tenants often feel sign allowances do not provide adequate visibility. Commissioners also urged the team to consider incentives for high-quality design and to tie sign allowances to physical site factors such as driveway count and frontage distance from major roadways.
Cadems said the project web page and surveys should be live by mid-May and that graphics and examples will be used in outreach materials to make the standards easier to understand. The commission offered comments but did not take action.
Ending: Consultants will carry out the outreach plan and return with draft sign allowances based on community feedback and technical analysis; commissioners requested particular attention to corner signage, shopping-center directory needs and legibility criteria.
