Edgewater council adopts sign rule allowing feather flags, agrees to six‑month workshop on banners

The Edgewater City Council approved changes to the land development code to allow feather flags and freestanding banner signs Tuesday, while agreeing to revisit banner rules after six months.

Staff presented the second reading of Ordinance 2025‑O‑05, which would permit feather flags and freestanding banners per business tax receipt in specified zoning districts. Planning staff said the ordinance follows a prior pilot program and follows the city’s typical temporary sign rules (requiring removal outside business hours and compliance with size/installation standards).

Councilmembers expressed concern about visual clutter and enforcement burden if both flags and banners proliferated, particularly in plazas where many businesses might display multiple signs. One councilmember said she saw multiple banners placed haphazardly during a recent event and worried that simultaneous use of banners and feather flags could become "a cluster." Another councilmember proposed limiting choices in plazas — "If there's more than 15 units in a plaza, they have the option of one or the other" — and suggested the council could revisit the details after adoption.

Mayor DePew said the city could adopt the ordinance and then workshop enforcement and spacing: "I make the suggestion that somebody makes a motion that we approve this ordinance with a workshop of a period of 6 months." Council voted unanimously to adopt the second reading with the consensus to hold a workshop in six months to examine banners and flags.

Next steps: ordinance adopted; staff will schedule a workshop within six months to evaluate banner placement, spacing, and enforcement approach.