Proposed ordinance is a sign of the times
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bvwv/News/6343/
Many residents consider them an eyesore, but the billboards peppered along U. S. 71 on the outskirts of the city will remain in place despite an upcoming proposed sign ordinance prohibiting future structures.
In the ordinance, signs currently in place will be regulated under a Grandfather Clause and will be allowed to stay; but the Bella Vista Planning Commission is adamant about getting rid of any future billboards in the city.
Our intent is that we really dont want any more billboards, said Debra Lewis, commission chairman.
Commissioner Don Robinson has already begun taking inventory of signs currently in place, but nothing can be done to have those which violate regulations set forth in the proposed ordinance removed.
You can prohibit new billboards, but youre stuck with the ones that are already here, Jeff Hawkins, executive director of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission, told city planners at their May 2 meeting.
The ordinance would require a city permit for most temporary and permanent signs including sales and promotion for businesses, charitable events and nonprofit announcements, awning and canopy signs, and marquee signs.
Signs allowed without a permit include construction signs, historic markers, political signs for election purposes, real estate signs and yard-sale signs.
The commission originally set a limit of political signs to one per lot, but issues with freedom-of-speech violations convinced members to increase the limit to five per lot.
Whether a permit is needed or not, regulations monitoring the size, height and number of signs must be met to be in compliance with the proposed ordinance.
In addition to billboards, other signs not allowed under the ordinance include portable signs, road-side markers, vertical banners stretching across a street or road, rotating or revolving signs and vehicle signs in a public right-of-way to advertise for products or services.
The proposed sign ordinance was originally planned to be part of the zoning ordinance which the Planning Commission is currently drafting.
But Bella Vista Mayor Frank Anderson requested it be separate so Council can pass it sooner, in time for election season in November, to regulate the various political signs which will begin popping up around the city.
Theresa Neal, administrator of the Architectural Control Committee, said she and her staff are currently reviewing the sign ordinance to see if there are any overlaps of regulations with the ones in place with the ACC.
Were wanting it to match up pretty well so theres no craziness, Neal said.
Enforcement of the sign ordinance continues to be a sticking point with the Planning Commission, knowing there is not enough manpower with the city or the Bella Vista Police Department to efficiently regulate the provisions.
Until the city gets a code enforcement guy, its going to fall on me, Police Chief Jim Wozniak said.
At its May 16 meeting, city planners decided to hold off on including enforcement provisions in the ordinance but agreed they are necessary.
Enforcement is the problem we have here, commission member John McBee said. Without any kind of enforcement, this ordinance would be toothless.
The commission members agreed that further revisions of the ordinance are needed before it can recommend it to the council.
There will be a public hearing at 6: 30 p. m., May 19, at Riordan Hall.
The odds of us passing this on the 19 th are next to nothing, Lewis said. It looks like we will have to wait until June.