HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda -12-3 - Information Item – Memorandum - Continued Review of Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendments on Signage PLANNING & INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT
Craig N. Benedict, AICP, Director
Administration
(919) 245-2575
(919) 644-3002 (FAX)
www.orangecountync.gov
131 W. Margaret Lane
Suite 201
P. O. Box 8181
Hillsborough, NC 27278
MEMORANDUM:
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Craig Benedict, Orange County Planning Director
Michael D. Harvey, Current Planning Supervisor
DATE: February 14, 2018
SUBJECT: Information Item – Continued Review of Unified Development
Ordinance (UDO) Text Amendments on Signage
At the May 23, 2016 Quarterly Public Hearing staff presented several amendments to
Section 6.12 Signs of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) intended to:
1. Eliminate superfluous/contradictory sign regulations;
2. Correct identified grammatical errors;
3. Establish standards defining what constitutes an electronic scrolling message
sign; and
4. Recommend the adoption of new standards allowing for larger signage within
specific non-residential zoning districts based on the size/road frontage of a
parcel of property.
During the public hearing staff indicated recent court decisions, most notably the US
Supreme Court case Reed versus Town of Gilbert, would require a comprehensive
review of existing regulations. Future amendments would be necessary to address the
findings of the Gilbert case to ensure compliance with same.
At the public hearing requests were made that staff:
a. Schedule a work session with the BOCC to continue the discussion on possible
amendments to the sign ordinance,
STAFF COMMENT: The request was to schedule a work session with the
Board in the fall of 2016 with a potential presentation of additional
amendments in May of 2017.
1
b. Establish additional standards to mitigate the impact of digital signage near
residential land uses/general use zoning districts (i.e. size of sign, additional
setbacks, etc.),
During this time, work began on revisions to the Table of Permitted Uses (TOPU) to
address impacts of various court decisions on how local land use regulations had to
address the ‘listing’ of prohibited land uses. For more information please refer to the
November 1, 2016 BOCC agenda Item accessed via the following link:
http://server3.co.orange.nc.us:8088/weblink8/0/doc/43348/Page1.aspx.
Work on sign amendments was tabled to devote resources to this project.
As staff appears to be nearing completion of work on TOPU, work has begun to finalize
an assessment of the impacts of the Gilbert decision on the County’s existing sign
regulations. Staff will continue to work with the Attorney’s office on the matter and
provide an update on a future presentation of these efforts.
Please note staff intends to bring TOPU amendments back to the Planning Board
Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) on April 4, 2018. A recommendation by the
Planning Board, and scheduling of the public hearing, will be completed once legal
sufficiency for the proposed TOPU amendments has been received from the County’s
Attorney office.
2