Agenda Date: 05/01/2018
Subject:
Title
An ordinance on second reading deleting Title 4, Section 3 from the Building Regulations of the Municipal Code regarding sign code regulation and adding Title 10, Section 17 to the Zoning Code of the Municipal Code regarding sign code regulation
Body
Presented By:
Steve Kemp, City Attorney
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION:
Does city council support amending the Littleton City Code by removing Title 4, Chapter 3 pertaining to signs and adding a new Title 10, Chapter 17 pertaining to signs?
BACKGROUND:
Currently the sign code is part of the building code. With the exception of amendments arising out the decision of the United States Supreme Court in Reed v. Town of Gilbert, most of the sign code dates back to 1971. The inclusion of and administration of the sign code as a building code function is unique to Littleton. In most jurisdictions, signs are regarded as part of the zoning and site development functions administered by a planning department.
This unique code set up has forced an informal process where the community development department issues the sign permits on behalf of the building official, even though such delegation is not provided for in the code. For the business owner the code is confusing because city processes and the code are not consistent.
In 2017, the city council reviewed the code provisions pertaining to portable sandwich board signs and provided direction to staff on amendments to the code. After a comprehensive review of the code, staff determined a number of additional modifications were necessary which were then reviewed with council.
PRIOR ACTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS:
Study Session on February 27, 2018.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
Most of the Littleton sign code has not been updated in more than 40 years. As a result the code has a number of issues:
1.
Not addressed as part of the land use code where signs are administratively processed.
2.
Confusing as the code suggests that administration is done b...
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