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Hopewell staff proposes changes to downtown and commercial sign rules
Summary
City staff presented a zoning amendment to revise sign-area, height and style rules across commercial districts, including relaxed rules for smaller freestanding signs and clarified window and awning limits; staff and the planning commission recommended approval.
City staff briefed the Hopewell City Council during a work session on proposed amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance that would change how commercial and downtown signs are regulated. Kelly Davis, deputy director of development, told the council the package would adjust sign area and height rules in B2, B3 and B4 commercial districts, allow an additional freestanding sign on certain through lots in the Oaklawn/Woodlawn corridor, and exempt small signs of 4 square feet or less from the current requirement that freestanding signs be “monument style.”
The proposed changes would also clarify awning sign-area rules and limit permanent window signage to 25% of a window, Davis said, noting the window limit is intended to help public safety by preserving sight lines into storefronts. On downtown (B1) frontage, staff proposed increasing the combined building signage allowance from 50 to 75 square feet and modestly expanding projecting-sign allowances tied to linear frontage. Davis said the Architectural Review Board (ARB) review would apply when the monument-style requirement is relaxed downtown.
Davis told council that the amendments grew from requests from business and property owners, letters submitted to council, and a community meeting with downtown property owners held as part of development of downtown design guidelines. “Staff recommends approval as presented tonight, and planning commission has also recommended approval of this,” Davis said.
No formal council action was taken at the work session; Davis said the full draft ordinance is available on the dais and in the public packet for possible future action.
The staff presentation included photos and examples of problematic window signage and alternative small sign types such as blade signs. The proposal would replace a strict height‑to‑width ratio requirement for freestanding signs with setback rules from the right-of-way, and add clearer language on sign bases and foundations.
Councilors did not pose substantive questions during the presentation. The item will return to a future meeting for council consideration if the city proceeds with ordinance language for adoption.
