Discussions

at last week's Fayetteville City Council work session regarding proposed

changes to the city's sign ordinance suggest that there may still be some

work to do before an amended version is officially approved.

City staff

recently met with several real estate developers and agents to discuss

the ordinance, and some changes were finalized by the city attorney, development

director Don Easterbrook reported to council last week. Several changes

were made involving so-called "stake" signs and other signs

advertising property for sale or lease in the city.

In the amended

ordinance presented to council at the work session, the proposed height

for stake signs was changed from three feet to five feet and the 10-foot

setback requirment was eliminated. Also, lots smaller than five acres

without a current building occupant or certificate of occupancy would

be allowed one stake sign out of the right of way.

For larger

lots, double-sided ground signs would be allowed six feet high, permitted

annually to ensure that they are temporary. Easterbrook suggested in a

staff memo that council determine the sizes of these signs, adding that

several current signs in town are 4x4 or 4x8 feet.

"We think

these properties should be able to advertise if they are for sale or lease,

but we cannot regulate the content of the sign," said Easterbrook.

Additional

ground signs could also be allowed in planned centers and subdivisions

with unsold lots, again on an annual basis to ensure that they are temporary.

A few local

real estate professionals and business owners were in attendance at the

work session and expressed a few concerns that to them remain unresolved.

Those who spoke to council agreed that they want an ordinance that works

right from the beginning and does not have to be changed again at a later

date, and it was requested that the matter be tabled until next month

to get the details worked out properly.

Other items

on tomorrow night's council agenda include:

An appeal

from Mr. Transmission of the Planning and Zoning Commission's decision

denying a special exception for their business at 705 Lanier Ave. West.

A rezoning

request from Timothy Breyne for his property at 180 South Jeff Davis,

from C-1 to C-1 with conditions.

Conditional

approval of a beer and wine license for Ferguson & Sons convenience

store at 765 North Glynn St.