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Show PG City Council Approves Admendments to City Advertising Sign Ordinance In a meeting held last week, Pleasant Grove City Council approved amendments to the city Signs and Outdoor Advertising Ordinance by adding exemptions for business signage and extending time frames for commercial banners; and creating three new theme districts for wall signage; and expanding the advertising area for options for freestanding signage, for the purpose of creating greater visibility and advertising options for businesses in the city. It was reported that earlier this year the city staff and the Economic Development Dept. began to see a need to modify the current regulations. This came as a result of many requests and complaints from existing businesses and also businesses seeking to locate in Pleasant Grove. Their primary complaints centered on visibility and the need to expand their signage options. In order to gain a clear understanding of the signage needs of local businesses, city staff began meeting with . local business owners and the Downtown Advisory Board. After several meetings that extend back to April of this year, and after reviewing a 2009 signage study, staff has crafted an ordinance that was unanimously given favor by local business owners in attendance, and the board gave a recommendation to approve the new ordinance changes in September. There are several categories listed. They include exempt signs, miscellaneous signs, freestanding signs, and monument signs. Items proposed for changes includes new criteria to allow corporate flags, update political sign exemptions to avoid legal problems with time frames, increased the time frame from 30 to 60 days for a grand opening banner, updated window sign exemptions to include wraps and neon signs; miscellaneous signs: increased the allowed time frame for general commercial banner signs, doubled the allowable size for community banners, and gave new criteria to allow A-frame signs in all commercial zones. In addition under miscellaneous signs, the new criteria increased the potential signage area, added options that area of sign can be further increased with CUP approval and meeting specific criteria., and clarified design requirements to match the theme for the Grove Zone. One area that required special attention was Wall signs and Suspendedprojecting, and Awning signs. The majority of complaints the city staff has received from local business owners were regarding wall signs. As a result three separate wall sign categories were created. ' These are Grove District which maintains the highest standard, State Street District which has zones which allow for the flat faced cabinet wall sign which is common up and down State Street with existing businesses. The third is the Downtown Village District which covers the Downtown area. The intent is to create a consistent image of the old turn of the 20th century downtown. The new ordinance on signs was approved by the council following a question and answer period. Richard Bradford, Economic Development Director for the city, said this is probably the best sign ordinance now in the state. Mayor Bruce Call added that the business people worked on this, too, and it really came out well planned. In other action, the city council approved a resolution declaring a 2003 field conditioner, a 1995 super rake and a 1994 super rake as surplus property and allow them to be sold. |
