Commission adopts sign ordinance changes including portable-sign permitting and new size/height limits

The Forest Planning and Zoning Commission voted to adopt amendments to the land-use ordinance (section 4-5.6) that adjust temporary and portable sign regulations, set new area and height limits, and create an annual permitting approach for movable signs.

Staff explained the major changes: a proposal to allow portable temporary signs up to 60 square feet with an annual permit and required owner authorization when a sign is moved to a new location; reducing wall-sign allowances in industrial zoning to 10% (15% elsewhere); capping total land-for-sale signage at 50 square feet; and adding language for construction-fence signs. Staff also said flags would be allowed up to a 35-foot pole. The staff presentation noted that some editorial/formatting changes were made following city-attorney review.

Commissioner (speaker 7) raised a legal question about political signs, asking whether allowing larger political signs during a limited timeframe would risk a content-based regulation; staff responded that the ordinance language follows the Century Code allowance for temporary signs 60 days prior to an election but that the city attorney would review any special exceptions. Staff also explained enforcement constraints, warning the city lacks staff capacity for active daily monitoring and that enforcement will likely be complaint-driven unless a full-time code-enforcement officer is added.

Several commissioners requested table edits, including adding portable signs to the size table and specifying a maximum height for portable trailer signs; Commissioner (speaker 2) suggested 10 feet for maximum height. Commissioner (speaker 3) repeatedly warned the tracking and enforcement scheme could be administratively difficult, saying, "It's gonna be a nightmare," as commissioners discussed per-location permits and Dec. 31 permit expiration timing.

Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve the recommended changes and to add the portable sign entry to the table (with the table/size numbers adjusted as discussed); the motion was seconded and carried. The commission adopted the ordinance amendments as amended and directed staff to incorporate city-attorney formatting and to add the portable sign entry and height limits to the sign table.

Next steps include staff finalizing ordinance language, incorporating attorney edits, and producing an updated sign table reflecting the adopted sizes and height limits.