Sunday, May 23, 2010

To: Mayor Hays and City Council members

I ask that you please consider the following comments on Ordinance O-10-35

Provide Adequate Opportinity for Public Comment
Everyone interested in this issue should be given an opportunity to review this ordinance and comment on it after any amendments are made to the current ordinance on the agenda for the May 24 City Council meeting. Please extend the moratorium as necessary to provide this opportunity, as would normally be provided on any ordinance of this importance. A number of concerned citizens have attended many committee meetings and City Council meetings for over a year to provide input on this issue--all the more reason they and other citizens should be provided the opportunity to comment on the ordinance before it is finalized.

Protect our Neighborhoods
The definition of electronic changeable copy signs (ECCS) should not be amended to exclude from regulation those ECCS that have a change frequency of one hour or more. This opens the door for this type of sign to be installed outside overlay districts. I am concerned that this will allow these signs in neighborhoods at locations surrounded by homes. It was my understanding that all City Council members wanted to provide protection to residential property owners from these signs interfering with the enjoyment of their homes. There are several statements in the ordinance expressing the intent for such protection.
I suggest that the definition of ECCS should not be dependent on any change frequency.

Limit the Permit Period for ECCS
The ten-year permit period for ECCS should be reduced to a period of no more than three years. This will provide a reasonable period to evaluate the impact of these signs on our community, including effect on any nearby homes, traffic safety, and appearance of areas where they are installed. More extensive comments on the permit period are included in a "communication" on the agenda for the May 24 City Council meeting.

Thank you,
Charlie Knott
President
Northeast Lakewood Associated Neighborhoods

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