Friday, Aug. 13, 2010

City relaxes some rules for advertising signs

A- and I-frames are OK'd for downtown; permit isn't required

The Planning Commission on Wednesday night recommended changes to its zoning codes that included sign ordinance revisions.

It was a lengthy process to get the proposed new zoning codes to this point.

"We've had six public hearings, it's been going on for quite a while," Planning Director Paula Fitzgerald said. "The comprehensive ordinance update and the (zoning) maps has been going on for approximately the past year."

The proposal includes limiting the height of A- and I-frame signs to the downtown district and moving them from the temporary sign section of the law so a permit won't be required for their use.

The sign portion of the proposed zoning code also limits temporary signs to only being displayed for 30 days, four times per year upon Fitzgerald's approval, and mandates that one-third of business window space be unobstructed.

The city decided to revamp its zoning ordinance in 2009. By February of this year, business owners were requesting enforcement of sign rules be relaxed to better allow them to attract customers during the recession. The sign rules are part of the zoning ordinance.

The city agreed and businesses were allowed to put up advertising banners, pennants, flags, balloons and A-frame and I-frame signs on their property for a six-month period. Previously, the items had been prohibited in the city or allowed only for a limited number of weeks each year.

Last week, the City Council extended the sign ordinance suspension until Dec. 17, when the new zoning codes are expected to be passed and have gone through the required length of time, 60 days, before taking effect.

At Wednesday's meeting, Commissioner Steve Hammond praised the proposed sign ordinance changes.

"I think the final product is that it's a great compromise between the two schools of thought," Hammond said. "You had one school of thought that didn't want any kind of signage whatsoever and you had the other school of thought that wanted signage everywhere.

"I think we came up with a good solution that would allow businesses to advertise and not be overly cumbersome on the community."

The proposed sign ordinance in part represents the recommendations of a 13-member committee of business owners and residents.

Enterprise staff writer Corey Pride can be reached at 388-6563 or by e-mail at cpride@losbanosenterprise.com