By Gage Wilson
For Glasgow News 1
Glasgow City Council took its first step Monday toward overhauling the city’s existing regulations governing signs and outdoor advertising, narrowly advancing an extensive rewrite that would establish new standards for everything from temporary yard signs and billboards to electronic displays, inflatables and signs placed in public rights-of-way.
The ordinance passed its first reading during the council’s second meeting of August following a review process that included a public forum held Feb. 19 and consideration by the city’s Public Safety Committee. According to Planning and Zoning Director Kevin Myatt, the city’s current sign ordinance dates to 2012.
The 30-page ordinance passed in a 5-4 vote, with council members Terry Bunnell, Chastity Lowery, Joe Trigg, Freddie Norris and Elizabeth Shoemaker supporting the measure. Council members Randy Wilkinson, Tommy Burris, Marna Kirkpatrick and James Neal were opposed.
The proposed changes are extensive, expanding an ordinance largely centered around outdoor advertising into one regulating signage more broadly throughout the city.
According to a summary presented to council members, the ordinance would regulate the size, illumination, movement, materials, location, height and condition of signs placed on private property and visible from outside the property. It also adds definitions for numerous types of signage and creates a sign standards summary table intended to make the regulations easier to interpret.
Existing signs would largely be grandfathered into the new regulations regardless of whether they comply with the updated location or size requirements. Once a nonconforming sign is removed or altered, however, its replacement would have to meet the new standards.
While much of the discussion centered on the specifics of the ordinance, Wilkinson questioned how those regulations would translate into enforcement once adopted.
“Are we going to have to hire someone to look at all these? I hope not,” he said.
Wilkinson went on to say that, based on his interactions with the public, signage around town had not been a consistent concern brought to him by constituents.
Shoemaker disagreed, saying she had heard from numerous residents who wanted tighter regulation of signs throughout Glasgow.
Myatt cautioned that, whatever regulations the city ultimately adopts, they would need to be enforced consistently.
“We can’t pick and choose,” Myatt said. “If we are not going to enforce it then it needs to be taken out.”
That issue is particularly relevant to signs placed in public rights-of-way, one of the more noticeable areas addressed by the proposal. Temporary signs would generally have to be located on private property, including political signs, and could not be attached to fences, utility poles or other structures within a public right-of-way.
Special-event signs could be installed up to 30 days before an event and would have to be removed within 48 hours afterward. Limited exceptions would allow certain small “pointer” signs to direct people toward real estate, yard, garage and similar sales.
The ordinance would also establish standards for electronic message displays, portable and sidewalk signs, inflatables and shared signage for developments containing multiple businesses.
Billboards would continue to be permitted along U.S. 31-E, U.S. 68/Ky. 80, Ky. 90 and the Cumberland Parkway, subject to restrictions on their size, height, location and spacing.
One proposed change would double the required distance between a billboard and a historic district, public elementary or secondary school or residential district from 500 feet to 1,000 feet. Billboards would remain limited to 50 feet in height and 600 square feet on each side, with at least 500 feet separating billboards on the same side of a right-of-way.
The proposal also spells out how violations could be handled. Signs considered abandoned, nonfunctional or otherwise in violation could be subject to removal, while easily removable signs improperly placed in areas such as public rights-of-way could be removed by the city’s code enforcement officer and held for 14 days before disposal.
For more permanently affixed signs, identifiable owners would receive written notice and an opportunity to correct the violation before further action is taken. Owners could ultimately be responsible for the city’s removal costs.
The maximum fine for violations would increase from $250 to $350. Billboard construction permits would carry a $500 application fee and $100 annual renewal fee.
Council members also approved on first reading an amendment to Glasgow’s R-4 zoning regulations dealing with minimum lot requirements for multifamily developments. The amendment creates separate standards for developments containing five to 10 units and those containing more than 10 units.
Developments of five to 10 units would require a minimum lot area of 21,000 square feet and a minimum lot width of 100 feet, while developments exceeding 10 units would require at least 25,000 square feet and the same 100-foot minimum width. Both categories would allow up to 75-percent of the property to be occupied by buildings and parking, while developments exceeding 10 units would be limited to a maximum density of 31 units per net acre.
Earlier in the meeting, council members heard a presentation concerning the Boys & Girls Club’s upcoming Great Futures Jubilee, which will mark the organization’s 20th anniversary. The event is scheduled for Sept. 5 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Barren Breeze event venue on South Lucas Road and will serve as a fundraiser while showcasing programs offered by the organization.
Glasgow Police Chief Guy Howie also recognized Capt. Ashley Jones for her work managing the department’s latest accreditation process. According to Howie, the department received a 100-percent score across its accreditation review and was awarded its accreditation Aug. 11.
The council additionally recognized retiring Maj. Terry Flatt, who was attending his final council meeting before retirement. Howie and Mayor Henry Royse credited Flatt for his leadership and decades of service to the department.
Because Monday’s votes were first readings, both ordinances will require another reading and council approval before taking effect. The next Glasgow council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 14 at 6 p.m.
Key Facts
– Glasgow City Council approved a 30-page sign ordinance rewrite on first reading in a 5-4 vote.
– The proposal expands regulations to cover a wide range of signs, from temporary yard signs to billboards and electronic displays.
– Most existing signs would be grandfathered, but replacements would have to meet new standards.
– Fines for violations would rise from $250 to $350, and new billboard distance rules near homes, schools and historic districts are proposed.
– Council also advanced changes to R-4 multifamily zoning and heard plans for the Boys & Girls Club’s Great Futures Jubilee.
– Glasgow police leaders were recognized for accreditation success and long service.
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