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Augusta council approves ordinance widening signage allowances for billboards and multi-tenant strip centers
Summary
The Augusta City Council on a recorded vote approved Ordinance No. 22-58 to align billboard frontage rules with county/KDOT standards and apply C-3 sign regulations to multi-tenant strip centers in C-2 zones, allowing aggregate signage (10% of building façade) instead of a 32 sq ft per-sign cap.
Augusta’s City Council approved Ordinance No. 22-58 on a motion to amend Articles 8.4 and 8.11 of the zoning regulations, changing how large billboard signage and multi-tenant strip-center signs are measured and permitted.
Planning staff told the council the ordinance is intended to align the city’s highway-frontage signage rules with Butler County and Kansas Department of Transportation standards for safety and consistency in the planning area, and to create a clear distinction between uses inside city limits and those in the planning area.
Under the adopted change, multi-tenant strip centers that are currently zoned C-2 will be regulated under the C-3 sign standards for purposes of sign-size calculations. Planning staff said that means sign allowances for such buildings will be calculated on an aggregate basis equal to 10% of the building façade, rather than constraining each tenant to a 32-square-foot sign under the old C-2 standard. As staff explained, "they'd be able functionally to create whatever size sign it is that they would like so long as it falls within that 10% aggregate limit."
During discussion, several council members cautioned that C-2 and C-3 districts exist for different reasons — such as parcel size, location and density — and raised concerns about applying C-3-style allowances in pockets that are otherwise residential or adjacent to Elmwood Cemetery. Staff answered that the amendment applies only to multi-tenant strip centers and does not change the underlying land uses or affect other business types in C-2 zones.
Business owner Nick Wilhelm, who owns the recently opened Gambino’s at the Belmont strip, described his plan to install an illuminated wall sign to improve nighttime visibility and advertise weekly specials. Wilhelm told the council he acquired a used sign and plans to illuminate it so it can be seen after dusk.
Councilor (names recorded during the roll call) voted as follows in the transcript: Martin — yes; Bailey — yes; Scott — yes; Richardson — yes; Davis — yes; Marr — no. The motion carried and the ordinance was adopted.
The ordinance changes take effect according to the standard adoption schedule for local ordinances unless stated otherwise in the final ordinance text. Staff said illumination standards remain separate and the city can regulate brightness, dimmers and timers under existing rules.
