Proposed City Sign Ordinance Emphasizes Sign Districts

With billboards and supergraphics as one of the hot topic items at city hall, a new staff report and proposed city sign ordinance has finally been released. It will be voted on next week Wednesday at a City Planning Commission."It is critically important that persons concerned with visual blight and the spread of commercial advertising in our public spaces understand how this ordinance addresses--or fails to address--those issues," urged Dennis Hathaway of the Coalition to Ban Billboard Blight. And it is critically important that citizen concerns be communicated to the planning commissioners before they vote on this ordinance that will have far-reaching effects on our city's visual environment."

The reports executive summary says "the proposed ordinance prohibits off-site signs outside of Sign Districts, including the signs commonly referred to as billboards. The proposed ordinance also prohibits digital signs, including digital billboards and digital on-site signs, outside of Sign Districts."

Later on, they conclude that "the standards proposed will more effectively protect neighborhoods from the potentially intrusive and visually degrading effects of billboards, supergraphics, digital signs, and sign clutter. In addition, the proposed ordinance makes room for certain exceptions, such as for large development projects and unique commercial districts, so that signage can be appropriately tailored where appropriate."