Planning commission continues public hearing on digital-sign text amendment, asks staff for neighboring-county rules

The St. Mary's County Planning Commission on Dec. 2008 continued a public hearing on a proposed text amendment to the county zoning ordinance to allow on‑premise digital signs and asked staff to gather sign regulations from neighboring counties before making a final recommendation.

The proposal would amend Chapter 65, section 65.3 (regulations for on‑premises signs) and schedule 65.3 (maximum sign area by district and sign type) and add definitions in Chapter 90 for digital signs, animation, blinking and scrolling. Staff said the draft is intended to permit electronic, motionless display (still pictures and logos) for on‑site businesses while prohibiting sound and limiting animated or distracting movement across displays.

Planning‑department staff member Miss Shelley said the amendment adds definitions for animation, blinking and scrolling to clarify what the commission would and would not allow. Proponent Robert Guider (presenting examples of existing signs) said some off‑site billboard‑style digital displays he has in mind could be engineered to reserve at least 10% of display time for nonprofit and government messages, but staff clarified that the current amendment only addresses on‑premise signs; off‑site advertising would require separate direction from the Board of County Commissioners and a re‑advertised text amendment.

Commission members discussed specific restrictions they want considered: limiting content to tenant names, merchant information and special events rather than retail product pricing; prohibiting animation that depicts moving objects or characters; limiting how frequently content can change; and aesthetic preferences such as pedestal (monument) signs rather than tall pole billboards. Several members expressed safety concerns about fast‑moving or highly animated displays visible to motorists.

Staff agreed to compile sample regulatory language and sign‑area rules from neighboring counties and to provide those materials prior to the commission's next meeting. The commission left the hearing open and continued the item to its January meeting so members could review neighboring jurisdictions' approaches and receive additional staff recommendations. No formal amendment or vote was taken at the Dec. meeting.

The hearing record also included an emailed letter opposing digital signage from Robert Elwood, which staff placed in the record.

The commission scheduled final action for the Jan. 12 meeting, noting the 125‑day review deadline will require either a decision at that meeting or an extension requested from the county commissioners.