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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING <br />Monday, August 20, 2018 <br />6:30 o'clock p.m. <br />5. LA18-000059 CITY OF ORONO, TEXT AMENDMENT — SIGNS, 7:30 P.M. — 7:40 P.M. <br />Barnhart stated this draft ordinance would delete and replace all of the sign regulations within the City <br />Code. The ordinance is intended to remove sign regulations based on what the sign says, which is free <br />speech concern. Another goal with the ordinance is to clarify the regulations. <br />Sign regulations must be content neutral, regulations must apply based on the time, place, or manner of <br />the speech rather than content. The city's current ordinance includes many references to the content of <br />the sign. <br />Barnhart noted the following: <br />1. The draft ordinance continues to prohibit pole signs. Where free-standing signs are allowed, they <br />must be monument style. <br />2. The draft retains the four temporary sign permits annually. <br />3. The new regulations introduce a sign standard table. This table is central to the "content neutral" <br />goals of this ordinance. All signs in the various districts are regulated the same manner. <br />4. Table 1 on Page 11 includes five districts. District 4 correlates to the B-3 zoning district and <br />attempts to incorporate existing signage; i.e., not creating a nonconforming situation. An <br />attempt to tailor sign regulations in the other commercial districts to prevent non -conforming <br />situations was made. <br />5. The draft ordinance allows up to 35 percent of changeable copy, either electronic or manual. <br />6. The draft ordinance does not require a permit to change the face or text of a sign. A permit would <br />be required if the sign is made bigger. <br />Thiesse asked if the City currently has a requirement regarding the changeability. <br />Barnhart indicated the City does not. Staff recommends approval of the ordinance as drafted. <br />Chair Thiesse opened the public hearing at 7:34 p.m. <br />There were no comments relating to this application. <br />Chair Thiesse closed the public hearing at 7:34 p.m. <br />Lemke asked if political signs are addressed. <br />Barnhart indicated political signs are allows and would be covered on Page 10. As written, District 1 <br />allows a certain amount of signage that is allowed in a residential district, such as a home occupation sign <br />or a political sign. <br />Lemke asked whether this addresses setback from property line or right-of-way. <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />