Planners to present first sign ordinance

The county’s first-ever comprehensive sign ordinance is ready to be rolled out for public inspection and comment.

A committee of the Rowan County Planning Board completed work this week on the ordinance which regulates political signs, commercial signs and billboards.

The new ordinance would change the spacing on billboards from 500 to 1,000 feet

A courtesy public hearing will be held Monday evening. The final decision on the ordinance will be made by the Rowan County Board of Commissioners next month.

Commissioners have extended a moratorium on new billboards and signs through mid-October, awaiting enactment of the new ordinance.

During two sessions, the Planning Board committee, headed by Andy Hinson, reached consensus on the proposed ordinance.

Much of the last session dealt with regulations affecting commercial signs.

County Planner Marion Lytle presented information on sign regulations in neighboring counties.

As part of the process, planning staff visited and measured signs at convenience stores and other retail outlets around the county.

They found the most signs at Hill’s Minnow Farm on Bringle Ferry Road. The store, owned by Terry Hill, uses a wall of signs to convey the old-style general store appearance.

Under the proposal, stores will be limited to a maximum of 200 square foot of signage.

After extensive discussion, the committee opted to exempt signs or banners attached to the walls, similar to the regulations used in Iredell County.

Other modifications, include allowing a business to have two pylon signs.

Pylon signs for businesses adjacent to I-85 will be limited to 100 feet in height

In an earlier committee session, members tackled the issue of regulating political signs.

The Rowan County Board of Commissioners asked planners to include regulations dealing with political signs.

Among provisions in the new ordinance, political signs will be limited to 4 square feet, with the exception of one sign per parcel which could be up to 32 square feet.

Under the proposal, the signs could not be erected until 45 days before the election. They would have to be removed 15 days after the election, or candidates could face possible fines by the county.

Copies of the proposed ordinance are available at the Rowan County Planning Department, 402 N. Main St.

The Planning Board meets at 7 p.m.Monday, at the J. Newton Cohen Sr. Meeting Room of the Rowan Administrative Offices, 130 W. Innes St.

Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com .