Topeka Planning Commission for a public hearing next Monday, May 20th at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers.

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From: Kris Wagers [mailto:kwagers@topeka.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2019 8:20 AM
To: mcre@cox.net
Subject: Sign Code Update

Greetings!

The Topeka Planning and Development Department wanted to bring you up to speed on the status of the City’s new Sign Code proposal that is going to the Topeka Planning Commission for a public hearing next Monday, May 20th at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers.

Below you will find more info related to the proposal and the agenda. Please forward to anybody you think would be interested in reviewing and/or offering testimony to the Planning Commission (PC) as they are anticipated to make a recommendation to the Governing Body for their consideration.

The new sign code has been in the works for 18 months with the PC and would be the first comprehensive update of its kind in 50 years. A major impetus behind the new code is the need to improve the City’s visual appeal which came out of the Momentum 2022 report. Another impetus was the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that only allows localities to dictate time, place, and manner requirements of signs, not their content. Also, newly adopted Downtown sign standards with these aims in mind laid a foundation to continue those best practices city-wide.

The new code is shaped by extensive public input via a “visual appeal survey” (964 responses, 386 written comments), 2 major public meetings, extensive committee meetings of local sign industry/business representatives, legal sign code experts, and best practices from other cities. Major recommendations to the Planning Commission include:

·         Maximum sign size would generally be proportional to the size of the building/property instead of a one size fits all approach.
·         Discrepancies in height/size limits between zoning districts would be softened to make sign standards more uniform across all zoning districts.
·         Commercial zoning districts would see reduced size and height limits except along highway intersections and large shopping/commerce centers. Non-commercial areas/uses would see more relaxed standards.
·         All new freestanding signs must be of a monument-style. New pole signs would not be permitted (except along highway intersections).
·         All temporary signs would be accommodated except portable message center signs (e.g., “arrow signs”).
·         Abandoned signs would be subject to removal.
·         Existing signs made non-conforming by the new code could continue without a sunset; any changes to their size would trigger partial or full compliance with new code

The full proposal to the PC can be found in their agenda packet.  Just the presentation of the proposal can be viewed here. All info on the sign code update process can be found at https://www.topeka.org/planning/visual-code-update .

Questions about the proposal can be addressed to Mike Hall (Project Manager) mghall@topeka.org or Bill Fiander (Department Director) bfiander@topeka.org.

Thank you for your time!

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Sent by:
Kris Wagers
City of Topeka Planning & Development Department
620 SE Madison, Unit 11
Topeka KS 66607

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