Parker commission to workshop sign ordinance after debate over political and electronic signs

The Planning and Zoning Commission agreed to convene a workshop to reexamine the city's sign ordinance, including whether to lift the existing prohibition on electronic signs and how to regulate political signs at Parker's polling place.

Staff said City Council had asked the commission to review the overall ordinance, with particular attention to electronic signage and limits on political signs at the voting location. "Some of the issues that we're having to address on a regular basis are the traffic concerns ... visibility triangle there at Marker Road ... and the litter, the after the fact cleanup," the staff member said, recommending a cap on the number of signs at polling places as a possible remedy.

Commissioners discussed several options and examples from nearby cities: some municipalities allow three signs per candidate, others allow four, while some set a per-sign size limit (for example, no sign larger than 4 square feet). Commissioners debated numerical caps versus simple rules (one large sign or up to three small yard signs), agreed that total square footage and height limits affect sight lines, and proposed a 10-foot setback from the road to protect visibility.

The panel also discussed electronic signs and brightness controls. A commissioner warned that allowing digital or LED signs raises questions about brightness, scrolling and flashing displays and said staff would need objective measurement criteria (for example, spectrometer readings) if the commission were to adopt specific brightness standards rather than handling each request by variance.

No ordinance language was adopted at the meeting. Instead, commissioners requested that staff compile sample ordinances and draft options that specify numerical caps, square-footage limits, height and setback rules, timing for when signs may be displayed during early voting and after Election Day, and potential enforcement mechanisms. The chair said the commission will hold a time-boxed workshop to consider those options soon so staff can provide guidance before the next election cycle.

The workshop will be scheduled as a future agenda item; staff was asked to pull ordinances from comparable cities and prepare draft regulatory options for the commission to consider.