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Council considers minor sign ordinance clarification; members flag LED strips and blacked-out windows for follow-up
Summary
Staff proposed clarifying edits to the town sign ordinance intended to prevent recent lighting workarounds; council members also asked planning and code staff to review window coverage and exterior lighting rules for retail and service businesses.
Staff presented an ordinance amendment to chapter 6, permitted signs in nonresidential districts, that adds language intended to clarify that certain lighting or sign-adjacent illumination remains regulated whether or not an actual sign is present.
"This adds a little bit of language just to clarify the ordinance. It really doesn't change anything," a staff member explained, saying the change was intended to prevent businesses from removing signs and continuing to use mounted lighting as an effective sign.
Council members used the item as an opportunity to raise concerns about LED strips, roof-mounted bright lights shining toward roadways, and businesses that black out windows. Planning and code staff said there is no current code that fully addresses total window blackout or some newer LED lighting techniques and that they would examine possible changes to address glare, light trespass and safety concerns.
Staff said the proposed ordinance language is intended as a clarification and that additional code amendments addressing lighting and window coverings would be brought back for council consideration if needed.
