The Wayland City planning Commission has set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13, on rules for a projecting sign for Wayland Main Street offices at 117 S. Main St.
City Manager Tim McLean told Wayland City Council members the sign, owned by former City Councilman Bob Golm, is larger than what the local ordinance permits in the downtown business district and it was installed without formal approval from the city.
Main Street Director Ingrid Miller told planning commissioners that the Main Street Design Committee approved the sign, but the contractor wrongly thought that mean it could be installed.
The Planning Commission agreed to propose an ordinance amendment that would change the minimum distance from the sign to any right of way to 30 inches, would waive any need for an encroachment agreement permit and strike restriction for signs near window sills.
The projecting signs are believed by the Design Committee to be desirable in making the downtown business district more attractive and business friendly.
The primary objective of downtown business district restriction for signs has been to make sure they aren’t too big and they don’t encroach on the public right of way. For example, projecting signs must be able to avoid power trucks or bucket trucks working the streets.
“We’re here tonight to avoid Mr. Golm having to take down his sign and then put it back up again,” Miller told the commission. “It was an accidental installment, which may work to our advantage because we’ve a chance to examine it.”
City Manager Tim McLean said striking the rules insisting on an encroachment agreement permit merely eliminates a redundancy that is “bureaucratic and unnecessary.”
Commission Chairman J.D. Gonzales said he supports the public hearing as an attempt to continue the Main Street vision of an attractive downtown district.
“This means we’re a vibrant town and willing to look at changes,” he said.
The Planning Commission also will have a public hearing Dec. 13 on proposed streamlining of site plan review procedures.