Balcones Heights planners debate easing temporary‑sign rules for small businesses

At its Feb. 17 meeting the Balcones Heights Planning & Zoning advisory board spent substantial time discussing the city’s temporary‑sign ordinance and whether its limits and fees unduly burden small businesses.

Staff summarized the current rules: a $50 permit, a maximum cumulative 180 days of temporary signage per calendar year at one location, any single sign design may be displayed for 30 days, a limit of two temporary signs at a time and a 14‑day waiting period before a new permit can be issued for the same property. Staff also explained Hillcrest‑district frontage areas are subject to specific height and setback constraints.

Business owners and several board members described those rules as overly strict and expensive if merchants must reprint signs monthly. Suggestions from the board included increasing allowable sign height (members discussed 6 feet as a practical minimum), shortening front setbacks in some locations from 15 to 10 feet for visibility, and establishing tiered permits (30/60/90 days) with stepped fees so businesses could buy longer display times without reprinting signs monthly. One member proposed allowing recurring use of the same design if fees are paid each term; staff noted the city council sets the official fee schedule.

Staff said it will research ordinances from neighboring municipalities (including Alamo Heights), analyze 10‑foot setbacks for feasibility, develop a tiered permitting proposal and circulate current code sections to the board ahead of the next meeting. The board directed staff to return recommended language at the subsequent meeting; no fee changes or code amendments were enacted at this session.

The issue will return to the board for formal recommendation to city council once staff presents draft language.