Florence City planning commission backs permit requirement and 25% cap for window signs

The Florence City Planning Commission voted to recommend an amendment to the city's Unified Development Ordinance that would require permits for window signage and limit any permanent window graphics to 25% of each individual window. The commission approved the recommendation by voice vote after adding a 90-day outreach and grace period to its motion.

Planning staff, identified in the meeting as Miss Lane, told commissioners the change is intended to address storefronts that have become largely covered with graphics and to protect the character of overlay districts. "If you let them do things without needing a permit, they go a little hog wild with it," Miss Lane said, arguing the amendment would give staff more control over aesthetics while not applying retroactively.

Under the amendment as recommended, new window signage would require a zoning sign permit (staff said the typical fee for a sign application is $25) and permanent window graphics would be limited to 25% of the surface area of each window. Staff clarified that temporary sales stickers and purely perforated screening intended for shade would generally not be counted as permanent signage, but any film or screen with advertising graphics would be treated as a sign.

Commissioners discussed how to implement the change without unfairly penalizing businesses that have already invested in signage. Several members said they preferred a 60–90 day grace period after final council approval to allow outreach and to let businesses that can document vested expenses finish projects. Staff confirmed a practice of treating existing full-window coverings as nonconforming; if the coverings are replaced, the replacements must conform to the new standard.

The planning commission asked staff to include explicit language in the motion to city council that would provide a 90-day period for public outreach and to allow businesses that can demonstrate they were vested in a sign prior to council approval to be treated reasonably. The commission opened and closed the public hearing on the amendment with no public comments and approved the motion by voice vote. The proposal will now go to the Florence City Council for final action.