Coupeville staff to study A-frame sign rules after council directed limited code review

Coupeville planning staff told the commission the Town Council directed a focused review of the sign code to consider whether temporary A-frame (sandwich-board) signs should be allowed and, if so, how to regulate placement, design and pedestrian access.

Why it matters: A-frame signs are a frequent local complaint when they obstruct sidewalks or create visual clutter, but small businesses say temporary signs help attract customers, particularly in lower-visibility areas.

What staff described: Staff said the council’s direction was narrow — to examine A-frame signs — and that the next step is to draft targeted code language. Council guidance discussed design cohesiveness (potentially requiring permitted or standardized frames), rules to prevent placement that impedes sidewalks or bike routes, and limits on off-site advertising. Staff warned that adding permit requirements for temporary signs could complicate enforcement and asked the commission for input on where civility and access thresholds should be set.

Commissioner comments and public input: Commissioners and commenters raised several practical issues: whether a uniform percentage-of-façade rule (the “5%” standard) should apply to A-frames, how existing public or quasi-public uses (library, fire department, public markets) should be treated, and whether different parts of town (historic downtown vs. wharf area or outlying commercial strips) warrant distinct rules. One commenter suggested a permit system for standardized signs designed by a local group to reduce visual clutter.

Next steps: Staff said they will return with draft language focused on A-frame signs and clarified that council asked them to avoid addressing murals or neon signs at this stage.

Ending: The council’s direction appears to be a narrow code amendment process that will include public notice and further commission review before council action.