The Aberdeen Town Council met in a work session on Monday to discuss, among other topics, whether or not a new ordinance regarding signage is necessary. Prior to that discussion, the Council unanimously approved the town’s financial statement for the last fiscal year.
Aberdeen Planning Director Pam Graham then opened the signage discussion. She pointed out that significant numbers of sign permits are now required due to current highway expansion projects, most notably on N.C. 211, U.S. 15-501, and N.C. 5. This has increased the burden on the assistant town planner, as the permitting process (and the number of permits being processed) is very time-consuming.
“The number almost doubled this past fiscal year, compared with the previous year, and we are barely into the process,” said Graham.
Wide variations in dimensional requirements create visual inconsistencies along major corridors. The projects, though, provide an opportunity for the town to take “another look at what we are really trying to achieve and to create regulations that help us get there.”
Whenever a sign must be relocated, for example, permitting is necessary.
“We have a multitude of highway projects going on, and when those signs have to be relocated due to projects, our ordinance requires us to issue a permit … because of nonconforming language in the permits, they have to be brought up to today’s standards, and we have a lot of signs that do not conform to today’s standards,” said Graham.
Sign size is generally regulated according to zoning. General commercial, general residential and other such zones have different size requirements at this point. Graham told the group that it would be a good idea to simplify the process and reduce the permitting burden on town staff.
Further discussions will be held, and a public hearing on proposed sign regulations is scheduled for Sept. 23.
A Sept. 23 public hearing will also be held on amendments to the town’s ordinance regarding solicitation and penalties. Aberdeen Police Chief Brian Chavis outlined the issues.
The town’s solicitation ordinance has been in effect since the early 70s and now is the time to address legal issues that were not a concern 50 years ago. The amendments largely bring the ordinances as they exist today in compliance with developing federal and state law requirements.
The proposed ordinance allows solicitation on private property without a permit but makes it unlawful to do so after a person has been asked to leave and/or if a property owner has posted a “No Solicitation” or similar sign.
Also, the ordinance now imposes specific limits on how close persons soliciting may be to banks, public transportation, and outdoor dining. The ordinance also specifically prohibits soliciting persons in vehicles in private, nonresidential parking lots and from street and highway medians.
One issue brought up at the meeting was people soliciting money in parking lots and along roadsides with varying degrees of aggression. And many of those soliciting seem to target senior citizens.
The matter of free speech was also mentioned regarding solicitation.
Public comments and suggestions will be heard at a Sept. 23 public hearing.
Please click here to access the meeting’s video and learn about other discussed topics.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Steve Biddle.
Aerial photo of U.S. 1 submitted by a Sandhills Sentinel reader.
