POCATELLO — The Pocatello Planning and Development Services Department inched closer to making revisions to the city sign code ordinance following a recent work session with the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Pocatello’s planning and zoning division staff, including assistant planner Jennifer Flynn, long range senior planner Jim Anglesey and Director Brent McClane spent nearly two hours with the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 9, obtaining the direction needed to make a serious overhaul to the current code.
Some of the most important items up for discussion during the meeting included defining signs and explaining their purpose in the city, discussing why changes are needed and fine-tuning specific elements of the proposed code, specifically sections on code enforcement, off-premise or billboard signs and dimming and curfew requirements.
“I thought we had a really great and productive meeting,” Flynn told the Idaho State Journal during a recent phone call. “We left the meeting feeling as if we received the direction that we needed and that we now have a clear path forward to amend the code.”
According to a slideshow presentation used to help facilitate the work session , the reason for regulating signs that are visible from public right-of-ways “is to ensure proper dimensioning and placement with respect to existing or planned architectural features, to maintain or improve public safety, to maintain or improve the aesthetic character of the context in which they are located and to provide legible information for both pedestrians and drivers.”
The reasons for these changes, according to the slideshow, include being a proactive planner in setting the tone for Pocatello’s future, to enhance the look of the city and reduce sign clutter and to make the code easier to understand, interpret and implement for compliance and less of a need for code enforcement.
“With the current version of the code, it’s very hard to implement and it’s also difficult to communicate to business owners and the public what is allowed and what isn’t,” Flynn said.
The new code, according to the slideshow, is simplified and easier to understand.
“Enforcement needs enhanced communication with business owners and residents as well as a simplified set of rules,” the slideshow states.
One of the most significant changes included a proposal to implement a cap and replace system for off-premises, or billboard, signs, similar to a policy that Boise has had on the books since 1990.
Flynn said that under the new system, the city would prohibit the construction of any new off-premise signs but would allow for any existing static off-premise sign to be upgraded to an electronic sign. Additionally, Flynn said that the cap and replace system would allow for existing off-premise signs to be relocated in certain situations.
“Say that you own a billboard and it’s located in someone’s front yard on Jefferson Avenue and that person says that they don’t want to have the sign in their yard anymore,” Flynn said. “Well you own the sign but you don’t own the location. If it’s permitted in an authentic way with the city then what you can do is when you get a permit to demolish the sign you would also get a token or a credit that would go along with the permit.”
She continued, “What will happen is that credit basically serves as approval or permission to erect a new billboard in an approved location. That being said, there are still standards for where billboards or off-premise signs can’t go.”
Another point of discussion during the meeting was a curfew and dimming requirement for electronic signs. When city staff work to revise the current sign ordinance, it will include a requirement that all electronic signs, whether on-premise or not, shall not be illuminated between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. or outside the hours of operation of the business, whichever is less restrictive. This means that businesses that are open 24/7 will never have to shut off electronic signs, or a business that stays open until midnight can keep their electronic signs illuminated up to that time.
City staff will spend the next several weeks working to revise the sign ordinance and develop a draft that will be presented to the Pocatello Planning and Zoning Commision during a public hearing in July.
From there, staff will take into consideration any of the recommendations from the commission and the public before developing a final draft that will be presented to the Pocatello City Council during a subsequent public hearing for final approval. Dates have not yet been set for either public hearing.
Flynn said that since the city embarked on this endeavor in November, there has consistently been more and more public engagement on the topic. She is hopeful that even more people will offer their thoughts or concerns on the changes and provide them to the city. Flynn can be reached directly at 208-234-6500 or jflynn@pocatello.gov . Additionally, residents can provide their contact information on this form to receive updates directly from planning and development services staff regarding the sign code: forms.gle/vs5HW8idJEf9aks69 .
“The city appreciates any and all people coming to these meetings and voicing their concerns or comments to us,” she said. “In November we had just one person speak in support of the sign changes and in March we had nine people speak in favor of the code. Getting the word out and being able to hear from a variety of the public has been beneficial and they can definitely reach directly out to me in the future.”
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