ANNA MARIA – The Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z) has requested modifications and clarifications regarding a proposed ordinance that would amend the city’s sandwich board sign regulations.
City code currently prohibits A-frame sandwich board signs, but in recent years the prohibition has not been enforced. In late July, Mayor Dan Murphy suggested revisiting the sign ordinance in response to a complaint he received. Murphy said then that he was not in favor of prohibiting the signs that help businesses attract customers.
On Aug. 24, City Attorney Becky Vose presented the commission with a proposed ordinance that would no longer prohibit sandwich board signs. Vose noted past city commissions enacted enforcement moratoriums on the sandwich board sign prohibition in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and before that when the City Pier was closed and replaced due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma.
The proposed ordinance would allow one A-frame sandwich board sign per business address.
The signs will only be allowed on commercially zoned and Retail/Office/Residential (ROR) zoned properties. The signs will be allowed only during active business hours and must be removed at the end of each business day, and also during inclement weather. The signs shall not be located on any city-owned sidewalks or rights of way and shall not impede pedestrian traffic or vehicular sight lines.
P&Z review
The proposed ordinance is being reviewed by the P&Z members, who will ultimately make a recommendation the city commission can accept, reject or modify.
During the Sept. 27 P&Z meeting, board member David Haddox asked what constitutes a business address. City Planner Ashely Austin said if 307A is one business address and 307B is another business address, and both are located on the same property, each business would be allowed one sandwich board sign. The board members requested further clarification as to what constitutes a business entity and business address.
The board members noted the Pineapple Marketplace features approximately 30 different vendors that share the same address. Board member Lisa Bagwell expressed concerns about not allowing businesses with shared addresses to display sandwich board signs when there’s enough space on the property for more. Board Chair Dr. Jose Erbella suggested the number of allowed signs be determined by the available privately owned space on a property.
Board member Dusty Crane said she’s not a big supporter of sandwich board signs and she questioned how the proposed sign allowance would be enforced.
“I’d like to see them all gone to tell you the truth,” she said.
The proposed ordinance currently says a sandwich board sign shall not exceed 24 inches in width by 36 inches in height, including the frame. Haddox noted the standard size offered by many sign manufacturers is larger than that. He suggested the sign’s graphic area not exceed 24×36 inches and the surrounding frame not exceed 27×45 inches.
Haddox noted some sandwich board signs feature a single panel that hangs in the middle and swings in the wind. He suggested prohibiting signs that move in the wind and requiring them to have two fixed panels.
The board also requested clarification on the vehicular sight distances and visibility triangle referenced in the proposed ordinance.
“You all do a great job of analysis and I want to thank you for it,” Vose said in appreciation of the board’s efforts.
The requested modifications and clarifications will be brought back to the P&Z members before the proposed ordinance is forwarded to the city commission.
