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Planner outlines proposed changes to Balcones Heights sign code
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Summary
City planner proposed reducing temporary-sign setbacks from 15 to 10 feet, allowing the same temporary sign text up to 90 days a year (removing the 14-day waiting period), adding maintenance standards, and clarifying measurement for feather/flag signs; the commission directed staff to return with a public-hearing draft.
At a March 17 meeting of the Balcones Heights Planning and Zoning Commission, the city's planner presented proposed amendments to Chapter 153, Article 12 (sign and advertisement devices) that would relax some temporary-sign restrictions and add new maintenance standards. "Just as a reminder from last meeting, we spoke about temporary signage and its limitations on businesses here currently and what they can advertise," the planner said, outlining a proposal to reduce minimum setbacks and lengthen permitted display time.
The planner proposed reducing setbacks from 15 feet to 10 feet for temporary signs, increasing allowances for properties fronting collectors and arterial roadways, and raising the permitted display period from 30 days per permit to 90 days per calendar year while removing the 14-day waiting period between permits. "So from 15 feet, we'll go down to 10 feet on setbacks," the planner said. She also proposed an express maintenance requirement: "Temporary signs shall be well maintained throughout the time they are displayed," to prevent faded or torn banners from staying in place.
Commissioners asked technical questions about how to measure feather or flutter flags. "If it's a flutter flag type...the smallest I saw was a 5.5 foot, but that's on top of the pole already, so it's more like a 7 foot," one commissioner said. The planner replied, "When I receive applications currently, we include the pole, but really it should only be the size of the flag," and offered to treat only the flag portion as the regulated height or to add an extra foot to accommodate poles.
The planner said the proposed language also clarifies how to apply size limits on different thoroughfares (limited access highways, major and minor arterials, Hillcrest district streets and fronting collectors) and gave examples including I-10, Fredericksburg Road and Balcones Heights Road. Commissioners generally expressed support for the direction and asked staff to return with a public-hearing draft. "I'll bring this back up next meeting. It'll go to public hearing here. That way, we can start proposing these amendments to city council," the planner said.
No formal vote was taken on the code amendments at the meeting; the commission provided staff direction to prepare public-hearing materials and proposed ordinance language for a future meeting.
