After months of discussion and debate over signs, city officials and building contractors hope a zoning regulation amendment approved Monday night brings the matter to a close.
During its regular Monday night meeting, the Beatrice City Council approved 7-0, with Councilman Rich Kerr absent, a new amendment to the sign regulations zoning ordinance that would allow temporary on-premise contractors signs, temporary or portable signs and signs placed on natural objects such as trees and rocks.
For the past several months, the city council has discussed advertising lawn signs after someone complained that a lawn care service company had its advertising up too long on at a residence, Councilman Alan Fetty explained during the meeting.
After the issue was sent to the Planning and Zoning Commission, it came up with a plan to allow construction advertising law signs on new construction only. However, the council rejected the recommendation.
Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission members formed another committee to discuss the issue, and from their discussion came the conclusion to ban all construction advertising signs. The council only read the ordinance twice and the issue was to come back for the third and final reading.
However, because of the discussion and concerns over banning any signs, Fetty said it was sent back to be worked out to find a solution everyone was comfortable with.
“For the time being, it will cover just about everything we've talked about,” Fetty said.
The new amendment would allow for temporary on-premise contractors signs, changed from on-premise construction signs.
An on-premise contractor sign is defined as “a sign advertising the services being provided by anyone who has a contract to perform said service on or for the property where the sign is located.”
Under this new amendment, the sign can be six-square feet in size and only be up for consecutive working days during the duration of the contract.
For example, if you have a contract with someone where you work four days over a two-week period, then the sign can be up only for the actual days you work.
“It has to leave when you leave,” Councilman Alan Fetty said.
Temporary or portable signs are defined as signs for grand openings, sales, announcements and special events. This would include baby signs or garage sale signs, Fetty said.
The new amendment would allow for the sign to be six-square feet in size and “may be present at any single premises in commercial or industrial zoning districts for a maximum of 14 consecutive days and a maximum of 30 days per year. Temporary or portable signs may be present at any single premises in all non-commercial or industrial zoning districts for a maximum of five consecutive days.”
Fetty also added that he read in the old ordinance that prohibitive signs, which are defined as signs painted on or attached to rocks, trees or other natural objects was prohibited. So, he thought it was appropriate to go ahead and change the ordinance to allow for those types of signs.
Overall, the council and residents and contractors in the audience said they were happy with the solution.
“I think it's something that's going to work,” Councilman David “Pede” Catlin said.
Resident Dale Simmons said the issue caught his attention and was satisfied with the final product.
“I want to thank you for getting it in a position we all can live with,” he said.