Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Signs Billboards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Arkansas City tightens billboard rules, limits height to 25 feet
Summary
The Arkansas City Commission on Jan. 7 adopted an ordinance amending municipal code and zoning rules to restrict off-premise billboards: maximum height reduced to 25 feet, maximum combined face area cut to 300 square feet, digital graphics prohibited, and spacing increased to 800 feet on the same side of the street.
The Arkansas City Commission on Jan. 7 adopted an ordinance amending municipal code section 50-227 and Zoning Regulations Article 27 to tighten rules for off-premise billboard signs, saying the changes reflect public sentiment raised at recent hearings.
City staff told commissioners the amendments followed a controversial application last year for a billboard at the Billy Sims property that prompted public outcry and led the applicant to withdraw. “The title of this item doesn’t do it justice, but I will explain,” a staff member said while presenting the ordinance and the planning commission’s recommendation.
Under the new rules the commission approved, the maximum height for billboard-type signs is reduced from roughly 50 feet to 25 feet. Maximum sign area is reduced from 750 square feet to 300 square feet total (all faces combined); a two-sided structure is limited to 50 square feet per side. The ordinance also clarifies that billboard and off-premise signs must be static — digital or flashing graphics are prohibited — and increases minimum spacing to 800 feet between signs on the same side of the street. The rules continue to permit signs in C-3, I-1 and I-2 zoning districts under those size and spacing limits.
Staff emphasized the distinction between on-premise displays such as bank time-and-temperature signs and off-premise billboards, noting on-premise signs remain subject to different standards. Planning staff told the commission the planning commission held a public hearing in December and voted to approve the amendments before the item returned to the commission.
Commissioners asked about signs on public property and whether the ordinance change addressed event signage in parks. A city staffer named Larry said staff had added a clarifying sentence to municipal code 50-227 to allow limited exceptions where zoning regulations permit signage or the governing body authorizes it, and that additional work on signs on public property would be brought back to the commission for further discussion.
The ordinance was approved by roll call vote (Yes: Commissioner Spillman; Commissioner Stover; Commissioner Tweedy; Commissioner Warren; Mayor Chad Beeson). Outcome: approved.
Commissioners and staff said the changes were intended to align the written regulations with the sentiment voiced by residents during the billboard controversy, and staff will follow up on public-property signage policy as requested by commissioners.
