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Planning and zoning to review sign code; committee endorses targeted review including electronic message boards for institutions

2591340 ยท February 25, 2025

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Summary

The committee asked planning and zoning to review sign-code items including removing the $500 escrow, recalculating wall-sign area for large facades, and considering limited electronic message boards for institutional uses; the committee voted to endorse those next steps.

The Wildwood Economic Development Committee endorsed a set of next steps for the city's planned sign-code review and urged planning and zoning to consider revisions that would promote business visibility while protecting public rights-of-way.

Mr. Lee told the committee the department had received specific requests from institutional users to permit electronic message-board signage and that businesses had raised other issues in the sign-code survey and at the Wildwood Business Forum. Staff outlined several potential changes: eliminate the $500 escrow requirement for sign permits (staff said accessing private property to remove noncompliant signs has proven difficult), move from a linear-foot metric to a proportional approach for wall-sign area on larger facades, clarify temporary banner language, and reinforce enforcement against signs placed in the public right-of-way.

Director Gruenis (planning) explained that the planning and zoning commission will hold a public hearing on sign-code revisions on Monday, March 3; the committee's survey results would be provided to planning and zoning to inform that hearing. Committee members and staff discussed enforcement challenges with temporary bandit signs and whether the city should coordinate with municipal court, the prosecutor and police to improve compliance.

Council Member Daboll moved to endorse the listed review items and planning-and-zoning review steps; Council Member Mabry seconded. The committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The department said it will forward the committee's feedback and survey results to the planning and zoning commission for the March hearing and will prepare any legislative language the commission or council requests.