Subject:
Title
Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to Chapter 18 - Zoning, Article 19 - Nameplates and Signs relating to Temporary Sign Regulations
Body
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
In 2015, the United States Supreme Court decided Reed v. Town of Gilbert, ruling that the regulation of temporary non-commercial signs must be content neutral and that content-based regulation is unconstitutional. Currently, the Town of Vienna’s zoning code regulations of temporary signs is content based, providing different requirements for temporary real estate signs, temporary public and semi-public signs, temporary election signs, and temporary construction signs.
In February, 2019, the Zoning Administrator made a determination that the Town would enforce the least restrictive standards for all temporary signs, allowing not more than 50 square feet total of temporary signs.
The Local Government Attorney’s Association of Virginia has prepared a model sign ordinance. At its July 6, 2020 meeting, Town Council set a public hearing for September 14, 2020, on proposed amendments to the temporary sign regulations based on the model sign ordinance, and referred the matter to the Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission has reviewed and revised the draft amendments based on the model sign ordinance at two work sessions on August 12, 2020 and August 26, 2020.
It is proposed that the temporary sign regulations in the Town’s Code be updated immediately based on provisions from the model sign ordinance. The model sign ordinance will also be considered as part of the more comprehensive zoning update process.
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
“I move to close the public hearing.”
And
"I move to recommend that Town Council approve the proposed amendments to Article 19 of Chapter 18 of the Town Code relating to temporary signs regulations, as presented."
Or
Other action deemed necessary by Council.