HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9691 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9691
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 9, 2014
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Subject: PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS REGARDING ELECTRONIC
rrn CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS
This report provides information on proposed text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance and Sign
Code related to electronic changeable copy signs. These signs are allowed by special exception
from the Board of Adjustment. The purpose of the amendments is to address concerns related to
the glare of signs at night and frequency of message change, and to provide guidance to the
Board of Adjustment on factors to consider in determining whether to grant a special exception
for a sign.
During the past three years, the Board of Adjustment has approved 54 special exception cases
for electronic changeable copy signs, and denied two. The cases were located across the city on
all types of streets. The Board added stipulations for 19 of the approved cases. Common
stipulations include limiting hours of sign operation and requiring a slower message change rate
than the 20 seconds currently allowed. Approximately 15 percent of the approved cases had
opposition to the proposed sign. Both denied cases received opposition from neighborhood or
civic groups.
Staff is proposing the following amendments:
• Require automatic dimming at night;
• Limit sign operation to the hours of operation for the business;
• Lengthen the message change rate in consultation with common sign operators; and
• Add land use compatibility considerations including visibility from residential districts, street
classification of adjacent roadways, and proximity to scenic corridors.
Staff consulted with the Commercial Board of Adjustment on November 19, 2014, regarding
desired amendments. Staff intends to notify and brief interested stakeholders including
neighborhood leaders, business and development groups, sign companies, and Scenic Fort
Worth regarding the proposed amendments. The Zoning Commission and Commercial Board of
Adjustment will be briefed on the amendments in January 2015.
Below is the proposed schedule for adoption of the text amendments:
Zoning Commission Public Hearing February 11 , 2015
City Council Public Hearing March 3, 2015
Should you have any questions, please contact Randle Harwood, Planning and Development
Director, at 817-392-6101 .
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS