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Erie council amends sign code to expand temporary sign allowance, clarifies sandwich-board rules
Summary
The council approved amendments to Section 10-6-12 of the Erie Municipal Code to simplify sign standards into a zone-based table, allow temporary signs up to 120 days per year (no more than 30 consecutive days), permit more frequent sign-copy changes, and amend sandwich-board sizing to 6 sq ft per side; the ordinance passed after a motion and voice vote.
The Erie Town Council on Feb. 10 approved amendments to the town's sign code that staff said simplify standards and give local businesses more flexibility.
Planning staff presented the ordinance to repeal and reenact Section 10-6-12 of the Erie Municipal Code. Melinda Helmer, business operations coordinator for planning and development, told council the update replaces much of the prose with a single, zone-based table and clarifies definitions, including a new off-premise signage definition. Staff recommended increasing the allowable temporary-sign display time from 30 to 120 days per calendar year, with no temporary sign in place for more than 30 consecutive days, and allowing sign-copy changes more frequently (once every 30 minutes rather than every four hours).
Council questioned enforcement and appeals. Code inspector Matt Lloyd said signs placed in the public right-of-way (for example attached to stop signs) are removed and typically discarded, while signs tied to a business are issued a notice of violation and given time to correct the issue; if violations persist, enforcement steps can include a summons and court process. Council member O'Connor asked whether the town has an appeals route; staff confirmed applicants can seek a variance before the Board of Adjustment.
O'Connor proposed and moved an amendment to clarify sandwich-board language to read that "A-frame or sandwich board signs shall not exceed 6 square feet per side and no more than two sides" on private property with property-owner authorization. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote; Mayor Moore announced the motion carries and the ordinance was amended and approved.
The council also discussed maintenance language; staff explained that a "good repair" standard is easier to administer than strict "original condition" language and that signs that are frayed, broken or unreadable would trigger enforcement.
The ordinance change follows a Planning Commission recommendation and includes a staff recommendation to return any major implementation questions for council review. No recorded roll-call tally was taken for the final approval (voice vote recorded as "Aye" and "Motion carries").
