- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Signage rules, street abandonment to go before Lakeport Planning Commission
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Lakeport Planning Commission will discuss time limits for temporary commercial signs and the proposed abandonment of a portion of Ninth Street.
The commission will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
In a continuation of a discussion from a previous meeting, the commission will discuss enforcing time limits for temporary commercial signs, a matter that came up earlier this year due to the proliferation of feather flags in the city, according to Planning Service Manager Andrew Britton's report to the commission.
Britton notes in his report that at the Sept. 11 meeting the commissioners “discussed the issue of temporary signs, particularly the feather-style signs that are now popular and being used by numerous Lakeport businesses.”
At that time, the commission agreed that feather flags are a form of temporary signage as defined in a city resolution and are therefore subject to the display time limit of 30 days per calendar year set forth in the resolution, Britton reported. At that point, the discussion also was continued to this month.
Britton said Community Development Department staff canvassed the city earlier this month and found that a total of 83 businesses are displaying temporary signs, 24 businesses are using a temporary sign as a permanent sign, and 71 businesses appear to be displaying temporary signs on a long-term basis.
“Based on the total number of businesses that appear to be in violation of the display time limit, complete enforcement will be a significant challenge due to limited enforcement staff and other work assignments,” Britton said in his report.
Staff is therefore offering several options, including increasing the time limit from 30 day to 60 or 90 days, which Britton suggested will only delay the need for enforcement action; developing a form letter to businesses explaining the time limit and requesting voluntary compliance beginning next year, which he said is the most “business friendly” option; preparing letters to individual businesses detailing the existing sign ordinance violations and requesting compliance, which would require a lot of staff time but also may be the most effective option; preparing letters to businesses displaying feather flags in excess of the 30-day limit and request compliance with the 30-day display limit beginning in 2014; or enforcing the temporary sign regulations only if the city receives a citizen complaint regarding the signs appearance or the length of the display.
Britton's report stated, “the Lake County Chamber of Commerce has provided input suggesting that some businesses credit the use of feather flags and banners for increasing their sales.”
While the city is sensitive to the needs of local businesses, “the long-term display of signs intended to be displayed on a temporary basis or the use of temporary signs as permanent signs is an aesthetic issue and can detract from the City’s overall appearance,” Britton wrote.
On Monday evening, the chamber sent out an email urging members to attend the Wednesday commission meeting.
Also on Wednesday, the commission will consider a request from Gary and Jane Leonard of Ukiah, who own parcels at 875 and 879 Pool St. and are looking to abandon a portion of the unimproved Ninth Street public right-of-way west of Pool Street, according to staff reports for the meeting.
The city documents indicate that the city of Lakeport also is proposing the abandonment of an additional portion of the unimproved Ninth Street right-of-way as well as the entire portion of the unimproved Harlie Street right-of-way, which is a short extension south of Ninth Street.
As part of the consideration, the commission must decide if the abandonment conforms with the city's general plan, which the staff report suggests it does.
The commission also will discuss and schedule its next meeting for Wednesday, Dec. 11.
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111313 Lakeport Planning Commission - Temporary signage discussion