LED PROPOSALS BEFORE THE PLANNINGCOMMISSION JAN 28

[burk...@aol.com]

           Two bills governing LED signs will go before the planning commission this Thursday.  The first, sponsored by Councilmembers Tygard and Gotto allows for the creation of Electronic Sign Overlay Districts (ESOD) in all districts including agricultural and residential.  Although there are design guidelines and restrictions in the residential areas we believe that this does not offer adequate protection and we recommend opposition to this bill.  The second bill, sponsored by Councilmembers Barry, Maynard and Holleman, builds on the good parts of the first ESOD bill, but excludes LED signs in residential and agricultural districts.  This second bill will allow for limited expansion of LED signs only into a few more commercial and industrial districts with protections regarding size, design, and brightness.  It makes use of  the work the task force did in coming up with restrictions and the work the planning commission has done to prevent the use of spot zoning for LED signs that is currently taking place.  Because there are two competing bills, input from citizens will once again be useful to remind the planning commissioners that neighbors are adamantly opposed to the use of LED signs in residential areas, even for special exception uses like churches and schools.  The Barry/Maynard/Holleman bill gives some leeway for schools and churches in areas that were formerly prevented from having LED signs – MUI, ORI, CL, CS, CF.  It also puts design guidelines in for some districts that have been allowed to have LED signs without guidelines - SCR, IWD, IR, and IG.

 

Public Hearings will be held for both items at the planning commission meeting this Thursday; we are not sure if they will be held together or separately.  But we need a BIG turn out to oppose Item 6 and SUPPORT Item 7.

 

Item 6 on the MPC agenda is Zone Change 2010Z-001TX-001, Electronic Sign Overlay District, Version 1, sponsored by Council members Charlie Tygard and Jim Gotto.  Planning Staff recommends disapproval, stating from a land use policy electronic display signs are not appropriate in residential and agricultural zoned areas.  The link to this item is: https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B1438UzXJix_NTRiZmY3ZTMtNDU4NC00YWRlLWIzNTUtNmRiY2EyY2FmYzUz&hl=en

 

Item 7 on the MPC agenda is Zone Change 2010Z-002TX-001, Electronic Sign Overlay District, Version 2, sponsored by Council members Megan Barry, Jerry Maynard and Jason Holleman.  Planning Staff recommends approval, stating this version allows the use of the Overlay in additional commercial, office and missed use zoning districts, while prohibiting the use in residential and agricultural zoned areas.  This version also restricts the use of the signs in zoning districts where they are currently permitted, requiring the use of the Overlay and associated development standards for future LED signs.  The link to item 7 is:

https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B1438UzXJix_NGM2NWVmNzEtODc2Ny00YWQ1LThkYjItNjBmMTRlMDc3OGY1&hl=en

 

Please Plan On Attending To Protect Our Neighborhood

 

Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.

 

Metro Southeast at Genesco Park

 

1417 Murfreesboro Road

 

One of these bills will be approved by MPC and one will be disapproved.  Both will go on to Metro Council and eventually one of these bills will be passed.  Now is the time to show up and speak.  You do not have to say much, but we need you there.  In addition, please write each planning commissioner or send an e-mail to:

 

planning.co...@nashville.gov

 

State you support item 7, Zone Change 2010Z-002TX-001 sponsored by Holleman, Barry and Maynard.  Also state you oppose item 6, 2010Z-001TX-001 sponsored by Tygard and Gotto.

 

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT; THIS IS THE BEST CHANCE WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM LED SIGNS.  DON’T WAIT – ATTEND THURSDAY – ACT NOW

 

Burkley Allen (and others on the ad hoc neighborhood LED committee)