Commission reviews redlined sign ordinance; staff recommends limiting electronic reader boards on wall signs

Staff returned a red-lined draft of the city’s sign ordinance and walked commissioners through the substantive changes since the last meeting. The presentation added definitions for "primary wall sign" and "secondary wall sign," clarified an exemption for homeowner or property-owner association signs, and updated lighting language to explicitly include LED fixtures.

"We added two definitions, one for a primary wall sign and one for a secondary wall sign," staff said, describing the intent to allow some secondary signage while keeping overall area limits aligned with existing provisions. Staff also said HOA signs would be allowed without a permit so long as they meet size limits (roughly not more than 4 feet in height and not greater than 6 square feet in area) and that LED lighting was explicitly incorporated into the draft.

Commissioners and staff debated electronic-message signs. Staff reported a peer-city review and said allowing electronic reader boards on wall signs is uncommon; he showed examples and recommended against including them as part of wall signs. "I’m not seeing that as a common allowance in most cities," staff said, and several commissioners called the examples "not appealing" and "cheap." Staff clarified that electronic reader boards may still be governed for monument or pylon signs with rules on how often and how fast screens can change to avoid driver distraction, while window displays with motion or scrolling messages would be treated as temporary and generally not permitted as moving permanent signage.

Staff said the sign ordinance draft is not in the zoning code and therefore does not require formal action by the commission tonight; staff will incorporate feedback and bring the ordinance to City Council in the near future for adoption consideration.