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A proposed text amendment came before the Planning
Commission on September 28, 2006. At that time, the
Planning Commission elected to not initiate the text
amendment. Instead, the Planning Commission scheduled the
text amendment for an October 16, 2006 work session. During
the work session, the Planning Commission opined that this
concept is best handled on a case-by-case review of
proposed developments. Accordingly, staff was directed to
prepare a text amendment where signage may be increased
by special use permit in multiple use developments utilizing
elements of traditional or neo-traditional design. The authority to allow
additional signage is broad.
The attached
text amendment was initiated by the Planning Commission on
October 26, 2006. On November 30, 2006, by a vote of 4 to 0,
the Planning Commission recommended adoption of the proposed
ordinance. The amendment allows the amount, size, and type
of signage in Commercial and Industrial Districts to be
increased by special use permit in multiple use developments
utilizing elements of traditional or neo-traditional
design. In issuing such permits, the decision maker is
required to take into consideration the location of the
development, site specific needs for such signage,
surrounding uses, the Comprehensive Plan, and good zoning
practices, provided, however, that the permitted signage not
increase by more than 100%.
The Board of
Supervisors conducted a public hearing on January 11, 2007.
After closing the public hearing, the Board of Supervisors
continued this matter until the February meeting.
Members of
the Board expressed concern about the application of the
enhanced sign allotments to “developments utilizing elements
of traditional or neo-traditional design”; they thought the
language too vague to be a useful tool. Perhaps, the
adoption of a definition of traditional or neo-traditional
design would assist. Toward this end, staff suggests the
following: “TRADITIONAL/NEO-TRADITIONAL DESIGN: A mixed use
development that is pedestrian friendly, and builds upon
urban design and architectural characteristics of small town
Main Street.”
The
amendment recommended by the Planning Commission allows a
developer to increase the signage by up to one hundred
percent. Supervisor Stribling, who moved to continue this
matter until the February meeting, wanted time to consider a
proposal by Angler Development. Under the Angler proposal,
the one hundred percent cap on additional signage would be
limited to building mounted signs, thus allowing a developer
to seek additional free standing signs for his traditional
or neo-traditional development.
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