COSTA MESA : New Sign Ordinance on Agenda for Tonight

Randy Garell is urging his fellow owners of businesses in the city to attend tonight’s Planning Commission meeting, at which a new sign ordinance will be discussed.

“It’s critical that we all show up and listen to what the commission is going to vote on,” said Garell, a member of the sign ordinance review committee.

“We should all get involved in helping to write the ordinance rather than complaining after it’s etched in stone.”

Whether business owners will be allowed to put up banners for more than 56 days a year, a limitation of the current ordinance, is one issue to be discussed at the meeting.

One proposal is to allow use of banners for 180 days a year, Garell said.

Another issue is the maximum size of inflatable signs. The committee is recommending that they be no greater than 10 feet in diameter and not be flown more than 75 feet above ground level.

Other issues include the amount of information that can be written on a sign and sign height limitations.

The public hearing will start at 6:30 p.m. After commissioners make the changes, the newly drafted ordinance will be brought back to the commission for approval in early March.

It will then be sent to the City Council for final approval.