SEMINOLE – A number of proposed changes in the city of Seminole’s sign code could have far-reaching effects for many businesses.
City councilors received an overview of the proposals during an Oct. 27 workshop and seemed in agreement to most of the changes except the length of time businesses would have to make the changes.
The original proposal called for a five-year period but Mayor Jimmy Johnson said seven years would be more reasonable.
Among the changes, the new code would:
• Prohibit new free-standing and attached signs over 100 square feet and 20 feet in height without a waiver through a city-approved development agreement.
• Requires a minimum of 30 seconds between text or image changes on an electronic message/LED sign.
• Calls for signs at abandoned buildings to have blank or opaque sign faces. Sign cans cannot be left empty or with the old business sign.
• Limits the Development Review Board authority on sign variances to be limited to setbacks only.
Nonconforming signs must be brought into compliance when the sign meets the definition of abandoned; a sign is destroyed in excess of 51 percent of its value; the parcel on which the sign is located is redeveloped; the building on the parcel where the sign is located is damaged in excess of 51 percent of its value; the property owner chooses to replace the sign or seven years from the date of adoption of the amended ordinance.
The new code would also reduce the size of allowable real estate sales or lease signs from 6 to 3 square feet for residential properties and reduces the size of nonresidential signs from 32 to 16 square feet.
Also, temporary window signage for commercial purposes would be cut from 100 to 24 square feet.
Slight increases in size would be allowed for freestanding signs in mixed-use and commercial neighborhood areas.
The new code would reduce the maximum size of freestanding and attached signs in areas zoned Commercial General from 150 to 100 square feet. It also reduces the maximum height from 25 to 20 feet.
Signs at businesses in IL zoning would also be reduced from 25 to 20 feet in height.
The city’s sign code was originally adopted in 1991 and mirrored the county’s sign code. However, because of changes in case law involving free speech and sign codes since 1991, the proposed changes are necessary, said Shauna Morris, the city’s special legal counsel on sign issues.
