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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2017)
AUGUST 18, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7 Sign code revisions get fi rst look By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes The Keizer Planning Com- mission wrangled with the fall- out from a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision during its Aug. 9 meeting. City staff presented a host of changes to Keizer’s sign code that brings the city into line with the Supreme Court’s de- cision, clears up some areas of ambiguity, and will grant addi- tional latitude to business own- ers regarding signage. In the Reid vs. Town of Gil- bert judgement, the Supreme Court determined that sign codes need to be content-neu- tral, which is another way of saying the code cannot suppress freedom of speech. That caused an issue for Keizer because it has rules applicable only to real estate and political signs. Community Development Director Nate Brown said that staff was suggesting small ad- justments rather than a major overhaul because “every ad- justment has ramifi cations. The main objective of any sign code is identifi cation of place and balanced visual access to the public.” A public hearing on the is- sue will be continued at the commission’s September meet- ing, but the commission re- viewed and offered input on the suggested changes. Some of the proposed al- terations include: • Allowing for a wider vari- ety of geometric shapes. • Placing signs for real es- tate, elections, government signs and non-profi t signs into a larger category of temporary signs. • Allowing temporary signs, such as banners, to be attached to buildings for up to 120 days within a 12 month period. • Allowing portable signs and feather fl ags to be placed one-per-storefront with a 10- foot separation. • Creating a new section that permits special signage for grand openings and special sales. • Allowing electronic signs to change once every 60 sec- onds – the current code limits changes to once every 15 min- utes – and allowing them to be attached to walls. • Allowing smaller, second- ary frontage signs for all busi- nesses. The current code only allows such signage in Keizer Station. The proposed changes are the result of staff input and conversations with the Keizer Chamber of Commerce. The most-talked-about change was allowing elec- tronic signs to change more frequently. The current limit of once every 15 minutes falls far outside the industry standard of once every eight seconds. In Keizer, there is even greater limitation on electronic signs associated with public entities, such as Keizer Fire District and McNary High School. Those messages can only change once per day, but would be treated the same under the new code if the changes are approved. Jonathan Thompson, speak- ing on behalf of the Keizer Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, told commission- ers that the Chamber preferred the eight second standard. we had to share between every- one in there,” Briley said. That’s one of the reasons for the pro- posed change to portable signs and feather fl ags. If the change is approved, a space like Keiz- er Plaza will be allowed more overall signage. Briley also said he has trouble attracting attention of southbound drivers on River Road North despite having a sign on his River Road front- age wall. The problem is that a tree planted for the purpose of beautifi cation now completely obscures the sign. “Our urban renewal pro- gram sought to plant green trees along River Road, but that competes with the visual space available for business,” Brown said. As far as input from the commission, there was some support for both the more rapid change of electronic signs and some that preferred lon- ger times, but the majority ap- peared to feel a 60-second rate of change was ideal. Chair Hersch Sangster told staff “you’re on the right track.” KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald A Keizer Mart sign completely obscured by a tree planted for beautifi cation highlights one of the confl icts between policies. one of the changes in the code and a space where confl ict be- tween competing goals has arisen. Keizer Mart is located in Keizer Plaza with 12 other businesses and Briley drew the ire of some of them when he began placing signs outside promoting new ownership and other aspects of the business. “We were unaware that there was any kind of restric- tion and I later found out that “One of the reasons that folks want the eight seconds was what we saw when police went up and down River Road asking businesses to put up messages about the fee hear- ing. It would be easier to post something like that in with a message from my business,” Thompson said. Testimony from Justin Bri- ley, one of the new owners of Keizer Mart on River Road North, revealed the need for Business&Services LAWN SERVICES PLUMBING NURSING & REHAB FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR OVER 39 YEARS COMPLETE LAWN & GARDEN CARE Yard cleanups, mowing, pruning, bark dusting, and more! 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