Plan Commission recommends changes to sign code; adds 'iconic sign' process and appeal for minor waivers

Staff presented proposed amendments to the Garland Development Code that would simplify citywide and downtown sign rules, increase allowable wall‑sign area in some situations, create an administrative path for certain downtown sign waivers and establish a new process to designate 'iconic' signs that enhance place identity.

Planner Ryan Mulkey said the changes are largely user‑friendliness improvements to reduce ambiguity: “A lot of the proposed changes aren't really substantive in nature. They're basically just sort of cleaning up a lot of the regulations, making them more user friendly… But as far as substantive changes, that generally falls into 4 different categories.” He described proposals to adjust size limits when near highways, remove the downtown height‑based area cap (setting a 30‑sq‑ft maximum for wall signs regardless of height) and permit administrative minor waivers to match citywide standards in the downtown district.

Commissioners focused questions on downtown protections, the minor‑waiver criteria and murals. The commission asked staff to include an appeal process for minor waivers; the motion to approve the amendment included that addition and passed with one abstention recorded for Cornelius. The adopted changes also create a recommendation path with the cultural arts department and city council for designating iconic signs and clarified that murals are defined separately from signs in the code.