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Commission sends historic-preservation overlay and projecting‑sign rules to next review with 50‑year lookback
Summary
After debate over a fixed 1970 cutoff versus a 50‑year lookback and discussion of internal lighting standards, the commission voted to send the historic‑preservation overlay and projecting‑sign text amendment to the JNO committee (and then to council) with the rule changed to a 50‑year lookback.
The Planning Commission reviewed a proposed zoning text amendment to create a Historic Preservation overlay (HP‑O) and to add standards for projecting (projecting) signs, including conditional‑use review and preservation review. Staff summarized the package as a consolidation of previous conversations and said the draft includes provisions for safety, placement and signage review under a conditional‑use and certificate‑of‑appropriateness process.
“Projecting signs are not allowed, anywhere in the city as a new type of sign, so we really didn't have any standards for that,” Shannon, the planning staff member, said while describing the proposed ordinance. Commissioners focused on two main issues: whether the ordinance should use a fixed cutoff year (1970) or a rolling 50‑year lookback to define historic signs, and whether internally lit signs should be allowed or prohibited. One commissioner argued for the 50‑year standard: “I think I would lean towards more of a 50 year look back because if we're writing this ordinance for the next, you know, 15, 20 years... it might change what's historic.” After discussion the commission moved to send the draft to JNO with the change from 1970 to a 50‑year lookback, and left lighting decisions to conditional‑use review rather than an outright ban. The draft will then proceed to council for a public hearing.
