Seaside planners recommend allowing electronic message-board signs on local residential streets, with safeguards for new installations

The Seaside Planning Commission on May 13 recommended that the City Council amend the Seaside Municipal Code to permit electronic message-display signs for places of worship and public or private meeting facilities on local residential streets — removing the existing prohibition — while adding protections for neighbors.

Andrew, a planning staff presenter, reviewed the current sign regulations (Seaside Municipal Code chapter 17.40) including illumination limits, automatic dimming requirements, a minimum 30-second message hold time and size thresholds (8 square feet allowed; 8–14 square feet subject to a minor use permit; up to 24 square feet digital screen area in other contexts). Staff said the proposal would eliminate the current ban on local streets and asked for commissioner guidance on whether the city should continue ministerial sign permitting or require discretionary review for local-street installations.

Commissioners pressed staff on scenarios such as a place of worship that fronts both a collector and a local street, the role of neighbor notification, whether replacement of an existing illuminated sign should be treated differently than a new sign, and possible fees tied to use-permit reviews. Several commissioners expressed support for a two-track approach: allow replacement or modernization of existing illuminated signs in the same footprint through a ministerial pathway but require a minor use permit (with notification and design review) for new signs on local streets.

During public comment, Virginia House of Lighthouse Full Gospel Church described the practical difficulty and physical risk of manually updating the church’s current backlit marquee and asked for a modern electronic sign that could be updated from an office. Commissioners cited that example in supporting a distinction between in-kind upgrades and new installations.

The planning commission moved to recommend that council approve the zoning change provided staff include language allowing modernization of existing illuminated signs in the same location and size, and require minor use permits for new signs proposed on local streets. The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Staff will draft ordinance language reflecting that direction and forward it to the council.