title
ELECTRONIC AND ANIMATED SIGNS (B)
Ordinance No. 0-07-80; Petition No. 139TCH-06 PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the Land Development Code relating to signs; amending section 30-23 by revising the definition of animated sign, deleting the definition of changing message device and adding a definition of electronic sign; amending section 30-316 to prohibit electronic signs; providing directions to the codifier; providing for a mandatory review; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
The City Plan Board heard this Petition at its public hearing on March 15, 2007, and by a vote of 5-0 recommended that electronic signs be prohibited and that definitions of animated signs, electronic signs and changing message devices be revised. On April 23, 2007, the City Commission heard this petition and approved the concept of allowing electronic portions of signs up to 20 square feet, directed staff to bring back visual examples and design standards, and approved a temporary moratorium on electronic signs until October 23, 2007.
On September 24, 2007, the City Commission held another public hearing on this petition and voted to (1) extend the moratorium on electronic signs until April 14, 2008, (2) refer this petition back to the City Plan Board to consider allowing portions of electronic signs limited to 20 square feet, and (3) direct staff to coordinate electronic signs with other parts of the sign ordinance to incentivize bringing into compliance legal non-conforming signs and other aesthetic benefits.
Staff held a public workshop with stakeholders on November 16, 2007. Discussion included previously presented criteria for electronic signs, limitation of electronic signs to one bulb color, whether LED signs violat...
Click here for full text