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Council reviews several code amendments to zoning and sign regulations
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Summary
City staff presented amendments to the 2012 zoning code, updates to zoning districts and the zoning map, and a package of changes to the sign code including cannabis advertising language and menu‑sign clarifications; council raised minor edits and requested typographical fixes.
Amarisa, a city staff presenter, outlined proposed amendments to the 2012 zoning code that would revise staff titles and responsibilities, clarify Planning Commission and hearing‑examiner authority, standardize land‑use application types and remove remaining references to the design review board following Title 2 changes. She said the package also includes chapter‑wide edits to security and financial assurance provisions to improve regulatory clarity.
The council also reviewed an ordinance to amend Arlington Municipal Code chapter 20.36 (zoning districts and zoning map). Amarisa said changes add a reference to the Cascade Industrial Center, separate "light" and "general" industrial definitions and add a new subarea section; she noted a lot‑division provision was moved into chapter 20.20 (administrative code).
On the signs code (chapter 20.68), Amarisa described removal of incentive provisions for "exceptional efforts," inclusion of state‑required language governing cannabis retailer advertising, changes to location and height rules for building‑attached signs and an update to commercial quarter rules. She said planning commission review added a last‑minute clarification on menu signs to allow one menu sign per lane rather than one per business or lane configuration.
Councilmember Tim flagged a formatting/run‑together issue in section 20.68.330(a) that staff agreed to correct. Several council members and participants raised questions about freestanding (yard) signs and temporary sandwich boards; Amarisa confirmed freestanding signs (roughly 6 feet and taller) are regulated separately as temporary signs and said staff would research enforcement and rules on signs stapled to utility/poll poles.
The items were discussed as consent agenda candidates; council members agreed to keep most items on consent while pulling two items for additional questions.
The council requested that typographical and formatting corrections identified during discussion be fixed before final adoption.
