Sterling Heights adopts 12-month moratorium on billboards to study local standards
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Summary
Council adopted a 12-month moratorium on erection or installation of billboards to allow staff and planning to study design, placement and regulatory standards and return recommended ordinance language.
Sterling Heights City Council voted to adopt a moratorium on the establishment, erection, construction or installation of billboards in the city for a 12-month period, after a planning presentation said the moratorium would allow the city to study standards for off-premise signs.
City planner Dr. Jake Marcell told council that billboards (off-premise signs) are currently not permitted under the city's zoning ordinance, but the city frequently receives variance requests with no standard design criteria. The moratorium will give staff and counsel time to study best practices, prepare potential ordinance language and provide recommended standards for the Zoning Board of Appeals and council consideration.
Councilmember Radke moved to adopt the resolution; Councilmember Zarko moved to amend the moratorium length from six months to 12 months and the amendment passed. Supporters said the moratorium is a protective step to avoid piecemeal variances and potential legal misnoticing while planning and legal reviews are completed. Some councilmembers said they are generally not in favor of billboards but want standards in place if exceptions are requested.
Next steps: planning staff will study case examples and draft proposed language for council review; the moratorium delays new billboard approvals while the city completes its review.
