Title
Sign Code Initial Review and Discussion
Body
The County Attorney’s Office (CAO) and the Community Development Department (CDD) have worked together to develop a new County sign code. The current County Sign Code is found in Chapter 16, Article X of the Los Alamos County Code of Ordinances. It is proposed that a complete repeal of Chapter 16, Article X occur with and the adoption of the new sign code, however no action on the proposed repeal and replacement will be taken at this meeting.
Although the proposed repeal and replacement will ultimately go to the County’s Planning & Zoning Commission for review and recommendation for Council action, this meeting is being held first to provide to Council several policy issues related to any final sign code. This includes issues such as the new method to classify signs only by sign size, placement, and permanence, as well as to for discuss whether electronic message centers usage in the County should be expanded, what heights of signs should be in each of the newly designated sign areas, and a new method to allow signs on County property and rights-of-ways with and without permits.
Staff from the CAO and CDD will be present to facilitate the discussion and discuss the various considerations used in the development of the proposed sign code. In developing the proposed sign code, the CAO's office consulted various professional associations including the International Municipal Lawyers Association and the American Planning Association for guidance. Staff further reveiwed other municipal sign codes both within and out-of-State. As will be explained no one-size sign code works for all cities and each must be tailored to the specific needs and policies of each local juridiction.
Attachments
A - Current County Sign Code.
B - Proposed Sign Code.