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Item # 12.

Work Session and Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:	06/24/2019
Department:	Development Services

AGENDA CAPTION:

Hold a Public Hearing, Discuss, and Consider Action Regarding Potential Changes to Regulations for Political Signs.

BACKGROUND:

At the Work Session on May 28, 2019, the City Council discussed the Town's current regulations and enforcement procedures related to political signage. At that time, Council directed Staff to explore changing the Town's political signage regulations to accomplish the following:

Prohibit political signs within the public right-of-way (ROW)
Formally prohibit political signs on Town-owned property, such as parks and Town facilities
Establish limitations on political signs near polling places

The Council also requested that staff survey how surrounding cities regulate political signs. Staff reached out to several nearby cities, and the results are summarized in the table below:

City	Allowed in the ROW?	Allowed on Public Property?	Allowed at Polling Places?
Allen	No	No	Yes, with local restrictions
Carrollton	No	No	Yes, with local restrictions
Coppell	No	No	Yes, with local restrictions
Farmers Branch	No	No	Yes, regulated by Election Judge
Frisco	No	No	Yes, regulated by Election Judge
McKinney	No	No	Yes, with local restrictions
Plano	No	No	Yes, with local restrictions
Richardson	No	No	Yes, with local restrictions

Based on Council's direction, Staff has drafted changes to the Code of Ordinances Section 62-247. - Political Signs. These changes are detailed in the attached exhibit. The proposed changes would remove the existing regulations on signs in the ROW and replace them with new language expressly prohibiting signs in the ROW and on Town-owned property with two exceptions.

Signs would be allowed in the front and side yards of single-family residential properties as long as the signs are at least three feet away from the edge of the street or, in locations with sidewalks, three feet away from the edge of the sidewalk. Staff is proposing this exception because in many of the Town's single-family neighborhoods, the ROW extends well into what residents consider their yard. In Midway Meadows, for example, the ROW extends 11.5 feet behind the back of the street curb. There is another residential property in Town where the ROW extends 50 feet into what appears to be the resident's front yard. To simplify enforcement for property owners and Staff, the proposed language would not distinguish between the ROW and single-family residential front and side yards as long as the sign is at least three feet from the edge of the pavement. This exception would not apply to rear yards adjacent to streets.
Signs would be allowed on Town-owned property that has been designated as a polling place. In such locations, two political signs would be allowed per candidate or issue for the period of time beginning with early voting and continuing through the completion of the election. Prior to the voting period, Staff will mark an area where signs are allowed. Signs in these locations would be limited in size to no more than 12 square feet and four feet in height and would prohibit illuminated signs or signs with moving elements.

This item is listed on the agenda as a public hearing so that the community can provide input. The proposed regulations and the public hearing were publicized in the June 21, 2019 Town newsletter. Based on any input received, Staff will request direction from Council, and will bring back an ordinance formally adopting new regulations for political signs at the July 9, 2019 Council Meeting.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff requests direction from Council.

Attachments
Political Signs - Proposed Ordinance Changes