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Mission moves toward sign code changes, enforcement; temporary signs draw most complaints

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The number of temporary signs for businesses in Mission Mart along Johnson Drive draws the most complaints.

The City of Mission is taking the first steps to revamping its sign ordinance and in the process addressing complaints that have been persistent, especially regarding temporary signs.

The city recently completed a sign inventory that catalogued a total of 817 signs. Of those, 91 were temporary signs. Along with the temporary signs, pole signs and window signs were of particular concern, city staff said. Temporary signs draw the most complaints and the area on Johnson Drive at Mission Mart has been a special target of complaints. The density of businesses in that area contributes to the number of temporary signs along the street.

Interim Community Development Director Danielle Murray told the city council that temporary signs are difficult to regulate under current code because the 60-day time period for temporary signs can start again if the sign is changed. Staff would need to time how long each sign has been up. Temporary signs are limited by square footage and not the number.

Councilor Arcie Rothrock suggested that the city could use a combination of number and size to reduce temporary signs with limits to special events. City Administrator Laura Smith said a restriction could include limits on the number of times per year temporary signs can be displayed.

Pole signs have been prohibited in the city since 2003 and only 24 remain. However, four signs (for Village Inn, Pride Cleaners, Johnny’s BBQ and Popeye’s) fall under a special 2009 amendment. Those four are allowed more maintenance than the others. Pole signs must come down if the business changes or if they deteriorate significantly. The council may look at setting a time limit for all pole signs in the city to be removed.

Window signs are now allowed only in the downtown – generally Johnson Drive area from Lamar to Nall.. That restriction, some councilors believed, was unfair. Few complaints are heard about window signs, staff said.

The inventory preceded looking at weaknesses in the city ordinance that need to be corrected prior to starting more strict enforcement. A staff briefing said the city can make rules about time, placement and manner of signs, but cannot make a distinction based on the content of the sign, although the First Amendment does not protect false claims.

The briefing pointed out that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last summer made some of the categories in the sign code unconstitutional. Most cities are affected by the ruling, but Mission would be one of the first cities in the Kansas City area to revise its sign code since that decision.

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