Changes are coming to the Fayetteville sign ordinance. The City Council on April 5 heard the first reading of a proposed ordinance change that will give businesses the ability to enhance the way they advertise by altering the way square footage is calculated and, in some cases, allowing two wall signs instead of the one now permitted.
The proposed changes were initially discussed at the City Council retreat held on March 9.
City staff proposed the idea of using separate calculations for wall signs and ground signs. The two types of signs are currently calculated together. Those calculations include up to 35 square feet for a ground sign with wall signs permitted for 5 percent of the facade square footage. The current requirement subtracts the facade calculation from the ground sign allowance and, consequently, can result in less square footage permitted on the ground sign.
The ground sign proposal submitted to the council for consideration would allow one 35 square-foot sign for each public street frontage while the provision for stores in planned shopping centers would be allowed 45 square feet per sign.
And calculated separately, wall signs on lots with a single building would be permitted a maximum of two signs, one per wall. The calculation would be based on 1.5 square feet per linear foot of building frontage with a maximum of 150 square feet per building.
There are two proposed variations for tenants in planned shopping centers though both would be permitted a maximum of 150 square feet of wall signage.
The second reading of the proposed ordinance and a likely vote will come at the April 19 meeting.
