Planning commission weighs I-90 sign overlay, distances and maximum heights amid concerns about residential impact

The Brandon Planning Commission spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing a proposed Interstate 90 sign overlay that would allow larger freestanding signs along the I-90 corridor and establish rules on distance from the interstate, maximum heights, separation from residential lots and spacing between signs.

Staff presented a draft overlay that would add a new overlay district and a set of rules for interstate-facing signs. Commissioners and staff discussed several measurement and policy options: using a fixed distance from the interstate center line (examples mentioned were 1,000 to 1,400 feet), tying allowable sign elevation to the interstate—s elevation so the east and west sides of the corridor would be treated comparably despite topographic differences, and a graduated height formula that would let sign height increase with distance from residential areas. Patrick, a planning staff member, raised an option that measured…