HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/23/2017 - INTERIM SIGN CODE CHANGESDATE:
STAFF:
May 23, 2017
Noah Beals, Senior City Planner/Zoning
Cameron Gloss, Planning Manager
Tom Leeson, Director, Comm Dev & Neighborhood Svrs
WORK SESSION ITEM
City Council
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Interim Sign Code Changes.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this work session item is to provide Council with an option to update the sign section of the Land
Use Code.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. Does Council want to proceed with content neutral changes to the sign section of the Land Use Code?
2. Are there additional areas of the sign code section Council views as important to explore during the later
comprehensive code update?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Within the last few years, many jurisdictions across the nation have updated their Sign Codes in the wake of
the United States Supreme Court case Reed v. Town of Gilbert. These updates have clarified their
regulations are content neutral. Content neutral sign regulations do not vary standards such as size, location,
and duration based on the message of the sign.
A consultant team was utilized to start an exploration of a Sign Code update. This last December/January City
staff held two shareholder meetings concerning the Sign Code. The shareholders included Fort Collins
residents, business owners, and license sign contractors. During these meetings the option for updating the
Code to be content neutral was discussed. Other topics of the Sign Code were also brought up. These
topics include:
1. Electronic Message Center display of full color (currently limited to display only 2 colors)
2. Interactive window signs (signs that allow a pedestrian to touch and move through images)
3. Length of time a message displays (electronic signs that can easily change a message)
4. Legibility of the sign section (the Code can be confusing leaving customers with many questions on
how it applies to them)
5. Alternative sign standards in the downtown area (the downtown area is enlivened by many
pedestrians and the general scale of current signs regulations are geared towards motorists).
Staff anticipates work continuing with the consultant team to explore a more comprehensive Code change.
SCHEDULE and PHASES
Phase One: Interim Code Update (current phase)
Met with shareholders. Receive Council direction on the interim code update. Bring the interim Code changes for
consideration on July 5.
May 23, 2017 Page 2
Phase Two: Comprehensive Code Update- Where are we now? Where are we headed?
Further public outreach through additional shareholder meetings and open houses.
Continue exploration of the current code standards and identify possible improvements.
Bring comprehensive code changes for adoption in early part of 2018.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Powerpoint Presentation (PDF)
1
Interim Sign Code Changes
Noah Beals, Senior City Planner-Zoning
ATTACHMENT 1
Purpose
2
To provide Council with an option to update the Sign
Section of the Land Use Code
ATTACHMENT 1
Direction Sought From Council
• Does Council want to proceed with content neutral changes to the
sign section of the Land Use Code?
• Are there additional areas of the sign code section Council views as
important to explore during a later comprehensive code update?
3
ATTACHMENT 1
Background
Reed v. Town of Gilbert
4
Content Neutral Signage:
Election Signs
Ideological Signs
Real Estate Signs
Identification Signs
Yard signs
ATTACHMENT 1
Project Overview - Phases
5
1 Met with shareholders
Council direction preceding with interim code update
Bring Code changes for Council consideration on July 5th
2 Further public outreach
Explore other Sign Code improvements
Bring Code changes for Council consideration in early part of 2018
ATTACHMENT 1
Phase Two Exploration
6
Two Color Full Color
or
Electronic Message Centers
ATTACHMENT 1
Phase Two Exploration
7
Display Time:
Current code requires a
message to be displayed a
full minute
Electronic Message Centers
ATTACHMENT 1
Phase Two Exploration
8
Interactive Window Signs
ATTACHMENT 1
Phase Two Exploration
9
Other Topics:
• Downtown Sign standards
• Canopy Signage
• Secondary roof Signage
• Sign Code legibility
• Setbacks and Heights
• On Premise v. Off Premise signage
• And other topics that may come up
ATTACHMENT 1
Direction Sought From Council
• Does Council want to proceed with content neutral changes to the
sign section of the Land Use Code?
• Are there additional areas of the sign code section Council views as
important to explore during a later comprehensive code update?
10
ATTACHMENT 1