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Landmark board recommends city ordinance banning illuminated signs around five historic plazas
Summary
The Landmark Board recommended that city council adopt an ordinance prohibiting illuminated signage along rights-of-way that abut San Agustin, Jarvis, El Mercado, Bruni and Saint Peter's plazas, aiming to protect historic plaza character and reduce glare; staff noted existing legal nonconforming signs would be vested.
The City of Laredo Historic District Landmark Board voted to recommend that city council adopt an amendment to the code of ordinances to prohibit illuminated signage on properties located along rights-of-way abutting five designated historic plazas: San Agustin, Jarvis, El Mercado, Bruni and Saint Peter's.
Staff explained the amendment would insert language across the sign code (definitions, charts and specifications) designating internally or externally illuminated, reflective, glowing or radiating signs as prohibited for properties along the listed plaza perimeters. Staff framed the change as aligning sign regulations with preservation goals, protecting architectural integrity, reducing light pollution, and maintaining a historic nighttime character for plaza streetscapes.
Board members raised questions about protections for long-established historic signage and whether the ordinance would remove or grandfather signs already in place. Staff explained that legal nonconforming uses and existing signs erected prior to adoption would enjoy vested status under the code, and that any future sign permit in a historic district is flagged for review and routed to the historic board.
A motion to recommend the ordinance to city council as drafted by staff was made, seconded and approved by the board; the recommendation will be forwarded to the city attorney/council process for formal adoption.
Next steps: staff will forward the recommendation and draft ordinance language to city council and continue outreach to property owners in the historic districts to explain permit and signage rules.
