Arkansas City adopts tighter rules for billboards and signs on public property

The Arkansas City Commission unanimously approved an ordinance Jan. 7 amending municipal code section 50-227 and zoning regulations Article 27 to tighten rules for billboard and off-premise signs.

City staff said the changes respond to public opposition to a proposed billboard near the Billy Sims property and adjust technical limits for off-premise advertising. Josh, a city staff member, described the principal changes: "We cut that in half. So now the tallest sign a billboard sign could be is 25 feet," and the allowed sign face area was reduced from 750 square feet to 300 square feet, with two-sided signs limited to a combined total equivalent to 300 square feet (effectively 150 square feet per face in two-sided configurations), he said.

The ordinance clarifies that digital graphics are not permitted on billboard or off-premise signs and extends the minimum spacing between billboards from 300 feet to 800 feet on the same side of the street. Existing on-premise signs such as bank time-and-temperature displays remain regulated under separate provisions, staff said.

Commission discussion touched on narrow exceptions for temporary public-event signage in city parks; the commission asked staff, including Larry (staff member), to return with a proposal to regulate signs on public property specifically for events in places such as Wilson Park and Parson Park.

The motion to adopt the ordinance passed by voice vote with all commissioners voting in the affirmative.

The ordinance amends two parts of the city's regulations: the municipal code provision limiting signage on public property and the zoning sign standards in Article 27. Commissioners said the changes were intended to better reflect public sentiment while preserving regulations for on-premise identification signs.

The commission directed staff to bring back a separate, more detailed policy on signage on public property for future consideration.