Midway council approves new sign rules, allows temporary signs and regulated painted/A-frame options

The Midway City Council on a 4–1 vote adopted Ordinance 2024-14, revising Chapter 16.21 of the Midway Municipal Code to create a narrow pathway for temporary, painted and A-frame signs on Main Street and other commercial corridors.

Staff presenter Michael introduced the ordinance changes and told the council the draft was intended to balance Main Street character with support for new and small businesses. He said the temporary-sign option would allow one nondecorative temporary sign per business, restricted in size, with only one renewal to allow roughly one full year of temporary display, and that existing signs would be grandfathered. "First year free," Michael said when discussing options for new businesses.

The ordinance creates three notable pathways: a limited temporary sign for new businesses (one sign, one renewal), an option for painted flat signs that must be reviewed and approved by the VAC (the code board identified in the packet), and a regulated A-frame/frame sign permitted only on private property near the business entry. A-frame signs were limited to roughly 2 by 3 feet, must be located within 10 feet of the entry door (the council settled on 10 feet during debate) and are required to be changeable — for example, chalkboard-style messaging — and brought inside at night to prevent them becoming de facto permanent fixtures. Staff will have authority to confiscate repeat noncompliant signs.

Councilmembers debated several details: whether to require existing (noncompliant) signs to be brought into compliance over time, the appropriate distance from a doorway for A-frames (options discussed included 5, 10 and 15 feet), and how to define acceptable changeable content. Several councilors preferred that A-frame messaging not merely repeat the business name but instead advertise specials, menus or time-limited offers. Michael supplied vendor pricing as context; he said a simple flat sign costs about $800–$1,000 while a dimensional sign runs roughly $2,000–$2,500, which influenced discussion about permitting a low-cost temporary option.

Councilmember JC moved to approve the ordinance with two edits (add a bring-in-at-night requirement and increase the entry-distance limit), and the council voted 4–1 in favor. The roll call recorded Kevin, Lisa, JC and Craig as "aye" and Jeff as "nay." The council instructed staff to finalize ordinance language reflecting those edits and to return if additional changes are needed.

The ordinance as adopted leaves some discretionary avenues: painted signs will be permitted only after VAC review and appeals would follow standard administrative appeal channels, and the council discussed but did not include a mandatory amortization schedule for existing signs (several members proposed five years as a possible timeline). The council also asked staff to produce guidance materials and visual examples for VAC reviewers to reduce subjectivity in future decisions.

The ordinance takes effect according to the city's standard code-adoption process; staff will draft the final text that incorporates the changes voted at the meeting and make it available for public review.