EAST LINCOLN COUNCIL DISCUSSES SIGNS….AGAIN….

By Jon Mayhew [DENVER] – Members of the East Lincoln Area Council (ELAC) learned Tuesday afternoon that about 40 percent of the current business signs in Lincoln County are nonconforming to the current sign ordinance.

With Lincoln County Commission approval of a Unified Development Ordinance last year, about the same percentage of signs will be nonconforming to the updated sign ordinance.

Members of the county’s Building and Land Development (BALD) held an informal discussion with members of ELAC to discuss how the sign ordinance and UDO would work together.

Kelly Adkins, the director of BALD, said the 40 percent figure was signs on the Highway 16 corridor alone.

“Every month, members of BALD ride the county, looking for illegal signs,” said Adkins. “Last month, we found 150 illegal signs in the county.”

The figure of 40 percent struck Denver business owner Joe DiMola. He told ELAC that the businesses are pressuring him to put up portable “popsicle” signs in front of his property. He is the owner of Denver Tire at the intersection of Highway 16 and Industrial Drive.

“I tell these business owners they can’t put signs up because they’ll end up in the trash,” said DiMola. “In most cases, their businesses are dying.”

Adkins said it’s important that business owners throughout the county communicate with BALD regarding the sign issue, specifically what’s legal and what’s not legal.

“If we don’t get input from business owners, then we can’t make changes,” said Adkins. “We’re willing to meet and work with anyone. Don’t let feelings erupt in front of commissioners before the UDO goes into effect March 31. Talk to us now."

Adkins was accompanied by zoning administrator Randy Hawkins and primary planner Randy Williams.

“The commissioners told us to look into sign amortization,” said Adkins. “One thing we’re researching is building variance with the regulation. While signs may not be conforming, these signs may be grandfathered in.”

Hawkins added when county officials received input during three UDO public hearings last year, they also received input on the sign ordinance.

“Numbers regarding sign size and feet from the road weren’t set,” said Hawkins. “What they said was the sign clutter in Lincoln County was ridiculous.”

Hawkins added consultants drove around the county, looking at different signs to up with numbers for the sign ordinance.

“It’s not a one-size-fits all,” said Hawkins.

Adkins said he’s heard “outcries” from citizens about the sign ordinance and different parts of Lincoln County.
“Highway 16 is different from Highway 27 west,” said Adkins. “People in different parts of the county expect different things. The current overlay districts don’t allow for different signs.”

Adkins pointed out that no decisions have been made regarding signs and the UDO.

Hawkins added there’s always been some sort of controversy to the sign ordinance, dating back to the early 90s.

“Back when zoning came to Lincoln County, there were limits on sign sizes and landscaping. After the county received initial reaction to zoning, those regulations were stripped.”

Realtor Bob Hecht had a suggestion for the three members of BALD.

Keep things simple.

“There’s two kind of signs,” said Hecht. “One of those is monument signs. Each strip shopping center or office building gets so many square feet per business. Is that simple enough?”