Agenda - Council - 07/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

VicRoads also gives operational requirements for electronic advertising message signs. Signage must: • not display animated or moving inages, or flashing or intermittent lights; • remain unchanged for a minimum of 30 seconds; • not be visible from a freeway; and • satisfy the ten-point checklist. 4.0 SUGGESTED REGULATORY APPROACH Local governments regulate electronic outdoor advertising devices in .widely varying degrees. Some cities completely prohibit the use of all electronic signs (sometimes specifying LED signs); while others have no regulations specific to electronic signs. Bet«~een those t«~o extremes, there are many levels and t~~pes of control that can be applied. The prinary concerns to keep in mind when considering sign regulations are 1) First Amendment rights, .which can be affected by regulations drat affect the content of a sign's message, ai7d therefore should be avoided, and 2) changing technology, which can quickly make a sign ordinance no longer applicable if the ordinance lias been specifically written to address a certain type. of sign technology. Performance based measures may therefore be preferable as they remain viable even as sign teclulology advances. 4.1 Definitions Signage discussions often, include a number of different ~~,=ords or phrases used to describe the technical characteristics of silage devices or d~eir components (such as LEDs). For d1e purpose of zoning, some .additional teens are also used to describe sign characteristics. Any regulatory efforts should take care to precisely define terminology. One possible resource in this effort is "Street Graphics and d~e~9 a«~," published by the fvnerican Planning Association (APA) Planning Advisory Service 4.2 Types of Regulatory Measures 4.2.1 Com lete or Partial Prohibition of Electronic Sim1s Some cities have completely prohibited d7e use of electronic outdoor advertising devices. For example; the City of Maple Valley, WA prohibits all t~~pes of electronic outdoor advertising devices including animated signs; electronic changeable message signs, flashing signs or displays, moving signs; scrolling displays; and. traveling displays. This. applies to both on- premise and off-premise signs. Other cities are very selective about where electronic signs are allowed, allowing them only in .certain zoning districts. There are very few ``standard'' approaches. For the most part, each local ,~22 -230-