Hearing set for proposed sign ordinance

The Alleghany County Commissioners will host a public hearing on a proposed sign control ordinance at its next meeting, Feb. 18 at 3:30 p.m. in the lower level of the county administration building.

The commissioners set that date at their meeting Feb. 4, but indicated they may make changes to the ordinance as drafted by the Alleghany Planning Board. Some said they envisioned a simpler ordinance that only regulates large signs.

The planning board drafted the ordinance after the commissioners put in place a 60-day moratorium on off-site advertising, said Kathy Murphy, county planner. The planning board created a draft and gave it to commissioners at their last meeting Jan. 21. Chairman Ken Richardson said the draft wasn't what he envisioned. "What I saw was a very simple ordinance dealing with—to use a simple word—billboards … any sign above a certain size or height would not be allowed in Alleghany County," he said. Those were some of the thoughts he shared with Don Adams, the county manager, he added.

Commissioner Millie Richardson said, "Our request to the planning board was come up with a sign ordinance. In the future our requests need to be more specific so we don't make them do all that work."

The 16 page draft, if approved with no changes, would allow some off-site advertising signs to be erected with a permit, some signs to be erected without a permit, and some prohibited outright. Existing signs would be grandfathered. Signs that don't require a permit would still have to meet setback and other requirements, Adams explained after the meeting.

 

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