Bettendorf amends sign code to allow city light-pole banners and exclude I-80 urban renewal area from billboards

The Bettendorf Plan and Zone Commission voted to recommend approval of an ordinance amending Title 11, Chapter 14 of the city sign code to add a defined category for official signs and to authorize a Bettendorf light pole banner program on city-owned poles. The amendment also designates the I-80 urban renewal area as an excluded zone for future billboards.

Taylor, a city staff member, said the changes clarify the code to allow banners affixed to city-owned light poles in public rights-of-way, establish categories for official signs (including construction and safety signs) and add a definition for the "Bettendorf light pole banner program". The banners—initially proposed for the Forest Grove Drive / Mill Road ("TBK"/Bedplex) area—would be installed on city-owned poles. Taylor said staff would use an administrative policy to manage details including which pole types are appropriate, spacing and maintenance; the banners would be produced by a third party and could include a small sponsorship panel for an entity's name or logo.

Commissioners raised concerns about future proliferation and about poles and spacing; staff said the banner program would be limited to city-owned poles and clarified the sponsorship piece is intended to offset costs rather than act as a revenue generator. Chris, a staff member, added the program seeks to ensure banners are maintained and visually appropriate.

The ordinance also adds the I-80 urban renewal area to the sign code as an area where billboards are excluded. Taylor said there are at least one or two existing billboards north of Interstate 80 that would be made nonconforming by the change; staff said the ordinance would not require immediate removal of existing nonconforming billboards but would prevent new billboards and conversions to digital displays in the excluded area. Commissioners noted that as the TBK sports complex and a new interchange become an entry point to Bettendorf, city policy favors limiting billboards in that corridor.

At the close of the public hearing, the commission voted on Case 25-004 to amend Title 11 Chapter 14. A roll-call vote in the transcript recorded affirmative votes from Commissioners Gibson, Appler, Scaife (recorded as "Scathe/Scaife" in the roll-call), Stoltenberg and Wendland; the motion carried. Staff said the amendment will be forwarded to the city council as the commission's recommended action.