The St. Mary's County Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a zoning text amendment allowing on-premise electronic changeable-copy signs for businesses in specified districts, subject to conditions intended to limit distraction and protect nearby residences.

Under the commission's recommendation, a single freestanding on-premise electronic changeable-copy sign may be permitted per lot in specified development districts and village centers; the electronic portion must not exceed 50 percent of the allowable sign area for the district. The amendment clarifies that home occupations are regulated separately in the sign section of the zoning ordinance and therefore will be treated under that provision rather than as a general on-premise business allowance.

The commission added specificity to the proposal: animated flashing, full-motion video and other "intermittent elements" are not permitted and the commission inserted the word "shimmering" into that prohibition to capture visually distracting effects. Commissioners discussed distance from residential boundaries, the intent that an electronic sign generally replace an existing freestanding sign (not create multiple freestanding signs per parcel), and the desire to make the signs affordable for small businesses while preventing large corporations from exploiting loopholes.

Motion language accepted by the commission included adding to Chapter 65 a sentence that home occupations are regulated in the home-occupation sign section, and amending paragraph 65.3.I.6 to add the word "shimmering" after the listed prohibitions. The commission also directed staff to add a definition for "shimmering" to Chapter 90 (definitions).

The commission authorized the chair to sign the recommendation to the County Commissioners and the proposal will be scheduled for a public hearing before that body.