City takes baby step to expand sign laws on The Murfreesboro Post

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City takes baby step to expand sign laws

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By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Staff Writer

Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 11:20 am

Murfreesboro’s restrictive sign ordinance is up for debate again.

The Murfreesboro City Council will consider lessening the ordinance Thursday, April 23, to allow automated changeable copy signs, but electronic LED-style and multi-vision signs will still be prohibited under the proposed changes.

The city’s sign ordinance has come under fire for being too restrictive, but the city has argued it is restrictive for safety reasons and changes are being made slowly because once they are done, they can’t be undone.

Most of the new signs – LED-based electronic graphic and video display types – are used to display gasoline prices or sale items at convenience or drug stores. Multi-vision signs and billboards are made up of vertical slates that rotate between different images.

Automated changeable copy, or flip-matrix, signs display letters or numbers that are not illuminated and can be changed remotely by computer.

George Huddleston, president of Huddleston Oil Co., said at a public hearing held in March some gasoline companies require the use of either manual changeable signs using plastic numbers or LED lights.

He said installing the plastic numbers can be dangerous for his employees, customers and motorists if the letters happen to fly off.

Under the proposed changes gas stations will be allowed to install automated changeable copy signs. The signs can also be used on billboards.

The city argues some LED-based and multi-vision signs are distracting to drivers and more studies need to be done before they are considered safe.

“At a minimum, staff believes that consideration of allowing any of these kinds of signs should be deferred until the planned Federal Highway Administration study of safety issues is completed, which is scheduled for later this year,” Planning Director Gary Whitaker wrote in a memo to council.

Murfreesboro City Council will conduct public hearings beginning at 7 p.m. for the following:
- Ordinance 09-OA-11 considers annexing approximately five acres located on the northwestern corner of Halls Hill Pike and Twin Oak Drive and to adopt for same a Plan of Services; Helen Salisbury and Mitchell Bowman, applicant.

- Ordinance 09-OZ-12 considers zoning approximately 5 acres located on the northwestern corner of Halls Hill Pike & Twin Oak Drive as Commercial Fringe (CF) District, simultaneous with annexation; Helen Salisbury and Mitchell Bowman, applicant.

- Ordinance 09-O-13 considers a proposed amendatory ordinance amending the Sign Ordinance of the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as heretofore amended, Ordinance 09-O-13 dealing with attached and ground signs.

- Ordinance 09-O-14 considers a proposed amendatory ordinance amending the Sign Ordinance of the City of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as heretofore amended, Ordinance 09-O-14 dealing with changeable signs.

Tagged under Advertising, City Council, Codes Department, Huddleston Oil Company, Murfreesboro, Technology

Member Opinions:

By: devolver on 4/23/09
"The city argues some LED-based and multi-vision signs are distracting to drivers and more studies need to be done before they are considered safe."

If a sigh is there to inform someone of something, gas prices, sales, etc, then isn't distracting the driver exactly the point of the sign? Is it just me, or is this entire subject being over-thought?

By: justdance on 4/23/09

Devolver, I agree there is waaaaaay too much time and energy being put into this issue. Can we please move on???