DEPARTMENT: Development Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Roderick Sanchez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
City Code Chapter 28 - Signs - Ordinance Review and Update
SUMMARY:
Council Member Mike Gallagher submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) on September 11, 2015 asking City staff to review, update and amend Chapter 28 titled Signs within the City Code. The CCR request that the San Antonio Development Services Department perform a full review of Chapter 28 and propose changes that 1) address new technologies and products in today’s sign industry, 2) provide flexibility to deal with changes in the sign industry, and 3) clarify the intent with regard to signage within the City of San Antonio.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
City Code Chapter 28 Signs of the San Antonio City Code has undergone a number of modifications and amendments over the years trying to keep up with changes in development, market needs, technology and growth within the sign and advertisement industries. Because this code has only been modified but not reviewed as a whole, the issue of signs impedes the interests of the city. Current Chapter 28 code language provides challenges to the sign and business industry, the City’s permitting process and the protection of blight within neighborhoods and the overall community. Therefore this CCR asks for a full review of Chapter 28.
ISSUE:
City Code Chapter 28 - Signs includes regulations for the licensing, permitting and posting of signs, limitations on their height, size and setbacks, allowances for on-premises and off-premises signs, weekend and temporary sign programs, schedule of fees, and enforcement and variance procedures. As there has not been a full review of Chapter 28 in its entirety, new technology, products and sign methods such as banners and flag signs along with their material/placement are not adequate to address the needs of today’s sign industry, local businesses, and neighborhoods. At the same time, the current code language in Chapter 28 does not include the necessary flexibility to deal with changes in the sign industry.
Therefore, as proposed in Council Member Mike Gallagher’s CCR on September 11, 2015, City staff recommends a full review of the City Code Chapter 28 with the goal of providing recommended amendments that will improve the code’s flexibility, usability and overall clarity in intent with regard to signage within the City of San Antonio. Development Services will coordinate and utilize a stakeholder group comprised of members of the sign industry and associations, local business groups, neighborhood leaders, local conservation and scenic preservation organizations, City staff and other related stakeholders to conduct a complete review of Chapter 28 prior to final consideration by City Council. The stakeholder group review process would begin in January 2016 with an expected list of amendments and updates to Chapter 28 to City Council in June 2016.
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, the Governance could choose to not direct the Development Services Department to conduct a review of the current City Code Chapter 28 - Signs thereby continuing the use of the current City Code Chapter 28 requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this CCR request.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends stakeholder group review process beginning January 2016. The Development Services Department will then brief the Neighborhoods and Livability Council Committee May 2016. An expected list of amendments and updates to Chapter 28 will go to City Council for approval in June 2016.