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Hooper council agrees to study larger home-business signs after resident request
Summary
A resident asked the Hooper City Council to consider relaxing the city's 2-square-foot home-occupation sign limit. Council members agreed to place the matter on a future agenda and ask staff for examples and recommendations about size, siting and setbacks.
A resident asked the Hooper City Council during the May 1 work session to consider changing Hooper's home-occupation sign standard, currently limited to 2 square feet, and council members agreed to place the issue on a future agenda for further study.
The request came from resident Dylan Robinson, who told the council a 2-square-foot sign is hard for motorists to see and asked whether the city would consider larger signs for home businesses. Robinson said he is creating stickers for cars and would like the option of a larger sign so passing drivers can see it.
Council members and staff discussed how the code is written. One council member noted the ordinance reference is "10-458" and read aloud the current rule that accessory nameplates and home-occupation signs are permitted without a permit but must not exceed 2 square feet and generally must be attached flat to the building and not extend above the eaves. Council members said they have observed larger signs in other areas and acknowledged a range of possible approaches, including allowing larger attached signs, allowing freestanding yard signs with setbacks, or creating conditional-use options.
No change was adopted at the meeting. Council consensus was to add a formal agenda item for a future meeting to allow staff to research examples in other cities, prepare recommended size limits and siting/ setback options, and present draft language. Council members also said they wanted to consider neighbor impacts, view obstruction and whether signs should remain residential in character (not commercial).
Robinson said he would participate in the follow-up and suggested sizes from about 8 square feet up to 16 square feet could be appropriate in some cases, but he also said he would not want signs that made home neighborhoods look commercial. Council members suggested staff return with draft options, including setback rules and whether to allow freestanding yard signs or only building-mounted plates.
The council did not take a formal vote on changes; staff were asked to place the item on a future council agenda for formal consideration.
Ending: Council members said the item will return with staff recommendations and examples from other cities; no code change was made at the May 1 meeting.
