Deephaven planning commission backs revised sign ordinance, bars electronic message signs

The Deephaven Planning Commission voted 6-0 on Sept. 16 to recommend the City Council approve revisions to the city’s sign ordinance, with the specific exception of prohibiting electronic message signs in all commercial districts.

Planning Director Pat Smith told commissioners the main purpose of the revision is “to make the sign regulations more consistent between businesses and to make the size limits on the smaller side to keep the character of the commercial districts as they are now.” Staff proposed several changes, including permitting banner flags as temporary signs, exempting non-commercial flags from permitting, and banning translucent awnings.

The draft ordinance treats sandwich-board signs differently by distance: sandwich boards displayed within 15 feet of a business’s front door may remain year-round without a temporary sign permit, while boards placed more than 15 feet away would require a temporary sign permit and be limited to 42 days per calendar year. Commissioners discussed Bean Haven, whose owners currently keep a sandwich board up year-round; Commissioner Jerome D’Alessandro said he favored regulating boards beyond 15 feet like other temporary signs. Commissioner Dan Goodrich suggested temporary signs be allowed only for consecutive days to reduce perpetual displays.

Smith said Midas was previously allowed a permanent banner sign through a Conditional Use Permit and noted Midas also has an electronic message sign in the C-3 zoning district. City Council Liaison Tom Erdmann asked whether the commission had discussed allowing electronic message signs in C-3; Smith said staff had recommended allowing them in C-3 to codify timing rules for future staff, but the commission instead voted to recommend approval of the ordinance while prohibiting electronic message signs in all commercial districts.

Smith told the commission that, if the ordinance is adopted by the City Council, staff would notify businesses by letter explaining the new temporary-sign permit requirements and enforcement process. The commission’s recommendation now goes to the City Council for final consideration.