Argyle staff recommends reconsidering mural rules; council signals interest in separating murals from sign code

Argyle Town Council received a staff report on Jan. 13 reviewing how murals are treated under the town’s sign ordinance and sign variance process. The staff presentation found that “mural” appears in the sign definition but the wall-sign provisions prohibit painted-on wall signs, effectively making murals disallowed unless a property owner pursues a sign-variance process.

Harrison (staff) explained that the town’s current code defines sign to include mural and that painted-on wall signs are prohibited in the wall-sign section of the ordinance, creating a conflict. Under the present framework, applicants seeking a mural have used the sign-variance mechanism and case-by-case site-plan review to obtain permission.

Council members discussed examples from nearby Denton, where murals have been encouraged as community placemaking and photo backdrops, and noted local examples where business owners used removable tile art as a workaround. Several council members said they would support separating murals from the sign ordinance and directing staff to draft an approach to allow murals in specified circumstances, with rules to avoid turning murals into commercial signage.

Council did not adopt an ordinance at the meeting but directed staff to research model mural programs, report back with recommended ordinance language and consider processes that would provide clear standards for approval.

No vote was taken; council expressed support for a review of the sign code to allow murals under a distinct permitting path.