Planning Commission to Consider Amended Sign Ordinance

The Belmont Planning Commission will both review and hear public comment regarding the city's amended sign ordinance at tonight's meeting.

The proposed ordinance is a "comprehensive amendment" to the current sign ordinance, and adds a section pertaining to signs on public property such as sidewalks, Community Development Manager Carlos de Melo said.

The sign ordinance is section 23 of the Belmont Zoning Ordinance, and the amended version would add section 23A -- the regulation of signs on public property, making the ordinance much more user-friendly, according to de Melo.

"We're looking at general same sign limits allowed for private properties, with some tightening of the regulations," he said. "We think it's going to be easier for all folks to understand better what their signage allowances are."

He said the Planning Commission has been reviewing policy issues pertaining to signs since May and have held several outreach meetings as well.

The Planning Commission tonight will look at the entire draft of the amended ordinance for the first time, and after hearing public comment will subsequently decide whether to advance a decision to the Dec. 7 meeting or direct city staff to revise the amended ordinance.

If the topic is moved to the Dec. 7 meeting, the Planning Commission could then decide to recommend the item to the City Council for approval.

Tonight's meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Belmont City Hall, located at 1 Twin Pines Lane.