Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sign Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission Reviews Sign Code Definitions, Seeks More Business Feedback
Summary
Associate Planner Caitlin Hepworth presented proposed amendments to sign‑code definitions, prohibitions and exemptions and requested final feedback; commissioners suggested clarifying which definitions belong in the sign section and asked staff to solicit broader business survey input.
Associate Planner Caitlin Hepworth briefed the Planning Commission on proposed amendments to the city sign code, focusing on revised definitions, prohibitions and exemptions and a set of exhibits that document changes made in response to earlier commissioner feedback.
Commissioners asked for clarification about several definitions included in the sign‑code package (for example, "commercial center," "façade area/front," and "franchise") and whether those terms belong within the sign code or should be moved to a more general zoning definitions section. Staff said the definitions were included in the draft because they relate to later design amendments but agreed they could be removed if they are not germane to the sign subsection at adoption.
Commissioners also asked about outreach: staff said a business survey produced 17 responses to date and that staff planned a second outreach run using the city’s business contact list, direct emails, and physical flyers to solicit broader input from downtown businesses. Staff said the packet includes an exhibit summarizing revisions based on previous meetings and that the goal is to bring a final package forward for adoption in the coming months.
Why it matters: Sign code changes affect how businesses present storefronts and how the city balances commercial vitality and aesthetics. Commissioners asked staff to refine the definitions and continue business outreach before the adoption hearing.
