08-06-2002 (Planning & Zoning) Minutes MINUTES
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
WYLIE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
2000 Highway 78 North, Wylie, Texas 75098
Regular Business Meeting
August 6, 2002
7:00 pm
Notice was posted in the time and manner required by law and quorum was present.
Commission Members Present: Staff Members Present:
William Chapman Claude Thompson, Director
Michael George Mary V. Bradley, Secretary
Don Hughes Terry Capehart, Planner
Carter Porter Dale Jackson, Building Official
Tony Snider
Commission Members Absent:
Jeff Adamcik
Mike Phillips
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman George called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.
PLEDGE AND INVOCATION
Commissioner George offered the Invocation and Commissioner Porter led the Pledge of
Allegiance.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
No one appeared to speak.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEM
1. Consider and act upon approval of the Minutes from the July 16, 2002, Regular
Meeting.
Motion was made by Commissioner Chapman, seconded by Commissioner Porter, to
approve the minutes as submitted. Motion passed 5 —0.
P&Z Commission Meeting
August 6, 2002
Page 2 of 3
WORK SESSION
1. Consider draft proposal of new sign regulations.
Mr. Thompson stated that sign regulations have been a part of the Zoning Ordinance
since the early 1980s. However, when the City Council approved the current Zoning
Ordinance in January/February of 2002, the sign regulations were pulled out for
additional discussion. The previous (1985) regulations are being enforced until revisions
are adopted, and several concerns have arisen recently in sign permitting under this
system. A public hearing has been scheduled for the August 20 Commission meeting,
and the Council will consider adoption with a hearing on August 27.
Building Official Dale Jackson has researched sign regulations of several municipalities,
and drafted revised requirements, which will be adopted as a separate ordinance and be
administered by the Building Official as are other building codes, rather than
incorporated back into the Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Jackson presented a summation of the
draft and guided a review of the specifics. He noted that the draft closely follows the
format and content earlier proposed by the consultant and recommended by the Planning
and Zoning Commission for approval. The draft included additional definitions, which
help to better define and direct the regulations. Several types of signs, which had been
omitted from the previous regulations, as well as several problems, which have been
identified in administration of the regulations, have been addressed by the revision. The
draft generally reflects the philosophy discussed by the Council in the earlier review. For
example, developer's signs, promoting new subdivisions and often located within the
public street rights-of-way, have been added. Signage attached to buildings has been
somewhat reduced, and directed to those walls and must be viewed from the streets.
A major concern of the Council with the earlier draft was the complete deletion of pole
signs by the Commission from the earlier draft, and Council expressed a desire that new
pole signs be allowed in some locations and that existing pole signs by protected. The
previous regulations had also favored monument signs; a recent trend in retail signage,
and the current draft continues to favor monument signs over pole signs. The current
draft presents a compromise, allowing pole signs only along the State Highway 78
commercial corridor and then only on large lots and when set back 50 feet from the
roadway. Several Commissioners restated their desire that new pole signs not be allowed
throughout the City, as such signs produce visual clutter and are not effective as they
often block view of others. Commissioner Porter responded that if pole signs are to be
allowed they should be allowed along all major highway corridors, or at least the more
commercial portions of S.H. 78, F.M. 544 and even the expanding Park Boulevard.
Commissioner Snider responded that the current definition as well as the previous
regulations, limiting pole signs to a height of 20 feet and area of 100 square feet, does not
eliminate the competitive clutter but rather results in squatty inefficient design, and
recommended that pole signs should be allowed to much greater heights and be much
larger in area if allowed at all. No decision was reached.
P&Z Commission Meeting
August 6, 2002
Page 3 of 3
Mr. Jackson noted that off-premises signs are still prohibited. Every sign within the
public right-of-way, such as subdivision/builder promotions, must be separately
permitted and are allowed only between noon on Friday until 9PM on Sunday. City Code
Enforcement staff working weekends will remove all violating signs.
The omitted limits for gasoline pricing signs will be added to the text. Reference to a
"Sign Board" is borrowed from another municipality, and will be revised to give appeal
authority to the Board of Adjustment at the Commissioners recommendation.
Mr. Jackson summarized the consensus of the work session as preferring three options;
(1)No pole signs allowed, (2) Pole signs related to the Zoning Districts, but (3) Keep the
current revisions as they are.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by Commissioner Porter, seconded by Commissioner Snider, to
adjourn at 8:45 p.m. Motion passed 5 —0.
Michael George, Chairman M V. adley, Secretary