POCATELLO — After taking considerations from residents and businesses, the Pocatello Planning and Zoning Commission approved a revised sign code in a 3-1 vote last week.
Since late last year, several meetings have been held to collect community feedback, evaluate potential changes and modernize the code. Work on revising the sign code has gone one since early 2023. Through that data collection process and through listening to feedback in public meetings over the past few months, the Planning and Zoning Commission finally approved a new version of the code.
Jennifer Flynn, the Pocatello Planning and Development Services assistant planner, submitted two versions of the sign code for consideration during the meeting on July 17. Flynn explained the various changes using a PowerPoint presentation, which addressed concerns that were raised during a previous public hearing on April 10 and a subsequent special meeting in May.
Definitions were added for business elevation to account for multi-tenant businesses that wanted to add new signage, clarification were made on what high quality and durable material means for the signs and clarification was also provided on what an “abandoned sign” meant.
Outcomes established in the May meeting included EMC’s, or Electronic Message Centers and allowing off- premises signs to upgrade static signs to electronic. Upon making that determination it was agreed to leave the illumination curfew at 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. or hours of operation, whichever is least restrictive.
The first version contained standards for new off premises signs while the second version did not contain any such language and capped billboards at 80 within city limits and 18 additional within the area of city impact.
After the commission questioned Flynn on various issues presented surrounding the sign ordinance in previous meetings that included how to evaluate light output levels or lumens, changes to allow businesses more freedom and discussion surrounding the curfew and dimming hours for sign owners, the meeting was opened for additional public comment.
In relation to any changes to the city’s proposed sign code, Three residents were in support, one was uncommitted and seven were opposed.
Those in support cited positivity surrounding the curfew and how they agreed with the proposed restrictions on billboards.
One uncommitted citizen commented on the sign ordinances language that expresses its intention “to promote public health, safety and general welfare” and her desire to “preserve the physical and social character of our children,” explaining how some of the content on certain signs may be inappropriate for children to view.
The seven that were opposed, including many that had voiced opposition to ordinance changes in many of the previous meetings, voiced concerns on how it would restrict small businesses and their ability to advertise in a greater capacity, their disagreement with size restrictions, the potential of damaging signs by forcing them to be turned off and on again and how the slow decline of Pocatello’s population may be correlated to the city not being as friendly to businesses as other more populous cities like Boise.
“I think it is a very fair statement to say, the code that we’re proposing provides more signage not less signage, a lot of people are getting caught up on the electronic signs,” Flynn said. “However, that is a small part of the overall signage that people use and so we’ve worked really hard at making it easier and providing more signage where appropriate to businesses — small and big.”
Notably, code enforcement for sign ordinance violations are spurred primarily by public complaint, so the city’s ability to police violators is somewhat limited.
After closing the public comment section of the meeting and allowing Flynn to address concerns and complaints and answer questions, the Planning and Zoning Commission discussed among themselves for several minutes before coming to a conclusion.
After an alteration was submitted for specific language in the code to be more generic with the dimming requirements, the commission voted 3-1 to approve the first version of the updated sign code, which would not restrict further billboards from being erected and generally addressed the various concerns presented by local residents and businesses alike.
The new sign code ordinance will be presented to the Pocatello City Council at its normal meeting set for Aug. 15, where the public will again be invited for final input and a determination will be made to approve or reject the proposed sign ordinance changes.
Most Popular
Comments / 0