PUBLIC COMMENT - ZONING ORDINANCE 64-107 SIGNS
FROM: GOVERNMENT STREET COLLABORATIVE
Member Groups Represented: Oakleigh Historic Garden Society, ODWA, Leinkauf
Historic District Neighborhood Organization, Midtown Mobile Movement, Flo
Claire Neighborhood Assoc., Lafayette Street Assoc., Church Street East, Lower
Dauphin members, The Loop Group Community Action, and
Historic Mobile Preservation Society
Public Comment:
1. The GSC requests that temporary signs and temporary window signs visible from the
sidewalk be limited as to the SF area and the number of such
signs allowed. See endnote 7 : “Is there any desire to regulate the overall area
of these types of signs [those not permitted] ?” Answer: YES. The GSC does
desire such regulation.
2. The GSC requests that “temporary signage” be defined to exclude product-specific
advertising other than special promotionals, and include business information of
interest to clients, employees, or customers, or sales of a short term nature.
Temporary signage should be limited by definition to events of a limited duration
such as community activities and opportunities or other items of community
interest. This definition should be not construed as limiting content but
instead defining temporary signage as a classification. Further, Temporary signs
should be “counted” in the allowable percent of window coverage or square
feet of signs.
3. Indoor Sign - is not defined and should be defined as a sign “not visible” from X-feet
in front of the business.
4. Illumination as signage - The GSC requests that signage casting illumination as
defined in the Ordinance in or into a
historic district and/or private residences be prohibited.
5. Enforceability and clarity:
A signage ordinance should balance the needs for commercial and nonprofit
endeavors and individuals to have public communication in ways that guard
against “sign clutter” and that do not create a negative visual image for the city
and its neighborhoods.
The GSC strongly supports an effective signage ordinance, especially in
traditional and historic neighborhoods and along Government Street and
other traditional corridors.
As a community group, the GSC also appreciates the need for using signage
for public communication.
To be effective, a sign ordinance must be clear and enforceable, and the rules
for temporary signage as written miss both goals. There are several different
standards for temporary displays in the Ordinance which, taken together,
confuse and seem to incentivize less preferable signage at the expense of
preferable signage:
1. One allows temporary banners to be displayed for 30 days for 3 times
annually, non-consecutively. Banners are required to be stretched taut,
mounted, limited in size, permitted, and “counted” in the total number of
allowed signs for the Zoning District, per the Table 106-1.
2. Temporary signs (5 a - c) may be free standing or on walls (and one assumes
window whether or not that is stated) displayed for 30 days
for 4 times annually, non-consecutively, with size and placement limits, but NO
permit, and NOT“counted” in the total number of allowed signs per Table 106-1.
3. Temporary indoor window sign (3 (b) 7, is yet another category, and the
definition of a “temporary sign” requires a specified time limit, but the standard
as written mentions NO specified time limit, NO window percentage 20%
coverage standard as permanent window signs require, NO size limit, and NO
permit.
Further, the times-per-year-non-consecutively for signage would seem
impossible to monitor and enforce, confusing to those needing to display such
signs, and open to misinterpretation by those attempting to “follow or
enforce the rules.”
Finally, temporary window signs are far less restrictive than permanent
window signs and banners. Heavy card stock posters can be displayed for
several years taped to a window, yet are “temporary” when evaluated by the
definition given as to sign material. The exact same poster placed in a
plexiglass frame for mounting becomes just a “window sign”
and must meet greater regulation. A framed poster is preferable to one
taped to the window, and this creates a situation where the ordinance becomes
a dis-incentive to a more visually appealing display.
6. Question, Clarification: A. Applicability 3. Sign Permits, (b) Permit not Required
This item appears to exempt these types of signs from permitting, and states
“….these signs are not considered in determining the allowable number or size
or signs on a lot, except as provided in subsection C below.” Subsection C
is the main section on “Standards by Sign Type, Zoning district, and Use.”
Clarify: When a sign is exempted from permitting, specifically
a 3’X5’ or 4’X6’
advertising card stock poster
temporarily
attached to glass window
either inside or outside, and
fully visible/readable from the street,
Is that sign limited by the size limits per the Table (20% of window coverage; total
of 64 SF of frontage signage, etc.) ?
7. Comment for item above:
IF the non-permitted temporary window poster of that size visible from the
street IS restricted as to size and window coverage , the GSC supports that
limitation.
IF the non-permitted temporary window poster of that size visible from the
street IS NOT restricted as to size and window coverage, the GSC requests that
the same limitations apply to temporary signs as to permanent signs.
The GSC especially requests this for traditional neighborhood centers and
traditional corridors, specifically in historic districts and on Government Street.
8. Enforceability and Clarity Comments:
The GSC asks that the language be revisited for both the standards and the definitions for
temporary signage, banner, and window signage, and provide illustrations to clarify.
A. An illustration to accompany definitions would be helpful: a properly framed/stretched and
mounted banner; a window bank with only 20% coverage; a taped temporary poster and
a framed, mounted poster.
B. There is no justification for removing all standards from signage that does not have to be
permitted. Most business owners, given the “rules,” will follow them and be grateful for
the relief from having to apply for a permit. The “rules” should state that should the owner
not voluntarily follow the rules and a complaint is lodged, the signage must be removed
immediately and a fine may be imposed. Temporary signage should be limited by
size, number, window coverage standards, and time limit (30 days, 3 times annually is
consistent and acceptable—subject to removal and fines if not observed.)
C. The Ordinance should incentivize preferable signage, and regulate signs to avoid
cluttering, unappealing temporary signs.
D. While the definition of “Sign” is fairly inclusive in the ordinance, we ask that it be added
that an entire structure cannot use its street-view exterior walls as signage on a traditional
corridor or in historic districts, without review by the Board of Adjustments or the ARB,
whichever is pertinent.
E. Consider creating different categories of signs by definition in order to limit inappropriate
signage.
9. 4 8(b), page 12, allows for converting a nonconforming sign to electronic or digital format.
The GSC requests this be done after a waiver and review by the Board of Adjustments in
non-historic districts and a review with recommendation from the ARB for historic
districts. This will also resolve a confusion between this statement and E 2(f)
page 14 which states that a nonconforming sign cannot be modified in any way which
makes it more nonconforming.
10. Request for Clarification, G. Signs in Historic Districts, 1 Applicability, page 16
Any sign on any parcel along Government from Water Street to the Dauphin Island Pkwy
intersection is included under Subsection G, even if the parcel is on a corner where part
of the parcel faces a side street and part of the parcel faces Government Street. Is this
correct? [Note; Mr. Blackwell answered this at a community meeting on 10/13/17 as
“Yes.”]