08-21-1997Workshop Meeting, Regular Meeting and Public Hearing of the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission

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• Staff Report Temporary Signs July 17, 1997 On June 2, 1997, two area homebuilders, addressed the City Council and explained the difficulty that builders are having bringing in new homebuyers. The builders believe the decline in new homebuyer traffic is a direct result of the City's sign regulations, which prohibit the use of directional signs to market subdivisions (no signs, regardless of their content, are currently allowed within the City's right-of--way). Note: The number of residential units being sold in La Porte has increased every year for the past five years. The City Manager, on behalf of City Council, submitted a letter dated June 30, 1997, to the Planning and Zoning Commission. In his letter, Mr. Herrera conveyed City Council's request of the Planning and Zoning Commission to provide a recommendation to the Council regarding the use, placement, number and permitting of temporary advertising signs on weekends, within the City of La Porte. The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on the matter on August 21, 1997. No citizens were present for comment at that meeting. After discussions, the Commission mutually agreed that it would be unfair to open the City's rights-of--way to signage for marketing subdivisions, without regard to other types of businesses that may want an opportunity to advertise in the same manner. The Assistant City Attorney, informed the Commission of new State legislation that gives municipalities the authority to approve, by ordinance, of signage within their rights-of--way. However, if the municipality chooses not to allow signs in the right-of--way, and signs are found to be there, the City may ticket the owner, since it is now considered a criminal act to place a sign in the right-of--way without first receiving the City's approval. In conclusion, the Commission directed staff to prepare an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance regarding temporary signs with no exclusions as to the content of the sign. The proposed ordinance change has been forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee. (Please note that several small businesses are concerned that the ordinance will be amended. The current ordinance is in line with some of the committee's beliefs and they feel that no change to the ordinance is needed.) The proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that was prepared by staff follows this report. If, during the September 11, 1997, Planning & Zoning meeting, this draft amendment is accepted by the Commission, it will then be forwarded to City Council for their review and consideration.