Commission recommends exemption for two Maddox Ranch House signs from sign-size calculations

The Planning Commission on March 6 voted to recommend City Council approve Ordinance 25B, a city code amendment to the sign chapter that would identify two signs associated with the Maddox Ranch House as “historic and iconic” and exempt them from certain size, lighting and design calculations.

Bob, planning department staff, told the commission the provision stems from work with the Maddox property owner to bring signage into compliance. He said the owner wants the existing rooftop sign reading “home of the world's finest beef” and the rotating red crown sign to be treated as historic/iconic so they would not count against the property’s allowed new-sign square footage if the owner attaches additional signage for a new bike shop.

The proposed code would not exempt those signs from safety and engineering requirements; Bob said the ordinance text specifically preserves requirements such as structural engineering and public-safety standards while removing the signs from calculations and lighting and design limits. The draft defines qualifying signs as more than 50 years old, in continuous operation, not a billboard, consistently maintained in good condition and retaining original form and appearance; it also says such signs shall not be relocated or modified without city approval.

Bob said staff removed an absolute requirement that a sign have never been moved and instead included language that allows the city to designate signs as historic or iconic even if they had been moved in the past; the new restriction is that designated signs cannot be moved after designation without approval.

Bill Morris was cited as having suggested additional applicability language; the staff memo indicates the city is trying to anticipate other categories (for example, flags, traffic-control devices, government signs and constitutionally protected ideological signs) to avoid unintended exemptions.

The commission opened and closed the public hearing with no members of the public appearing online. A motion to forward Ordinance 25B to City Council with a recommendation for approval passed on a recorded voice vote. Commissioners recorded in the vote were Commissioner O'Hare (yes), Commissioner Moss (yes), Mister Thompson (yes) and Commissioner Ramos (yes).

Staff said no other signs immediately came to mind for the exemption, although the code contains separate language concerning another local sign, the Rusted Spoon, which staff did not research in detail at the meeting.

Next steps: Ordinance 25B will be scheduled before City Council for consideration with staff and the applicant available to answer Council questions.