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Council delays decision on larger signs

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Staff


By Kirk Ross

Staff Writer

CHAPEL HILL — The Chapel Hill Town Council on Monday agreed to hold off on a decision on major changes to the town’s sign ordinance to give residents more time to weigh in on the matter.

At its meeting at Town Hall, the council opted to delay a decision on allowing 12 major retail centers around town to increase the size of their signs. Current town law restricts the size of signs to 15 square feet and limits the number of tenants a center can list.

The new ordinance has been scaled back since last seen by the council at a public hearing in mid-February. It would allow developments like Meadowmont and Southern Village and retail centers like Eastgate and University Mall to increase the size of their signs up to 120 square feet along 35 mph roads and 144 square feet along 45 mph roads. Maximum height of signs would rise from 8 to 14 feet.

At the council meeting, resident Madeline Jefferson implored the council to give citizens more time to learn about what’s being proposed.

“We’re not Durham, we’re not Raleigh, we’re not a big commercial area,” she said, adding that the town was small and most people know what stores are located in the centers. “We don’t need huge signs to tell us.”

Council member Penny Rich said the signs were important to help visitors find their way around. She and other council members said they were cautious about the idea and wanted to make sure there were safeguards in the ordinance to keep the signs tasteful.

“I just don’t want it to look too tacky,” Rich said.

Also on Monday night, the council received an update on the town’s library-expansion project and the temporary move of the Chapel Hill Public Library to University Mall.

Assistant Town Manager Bruce Heflin said the library will occupy two spaces at the mall, with the main services located in the former Hungate’s space near Dillard’s and a technical services and administrative space near A Southern Season.

Town Manager Roger Stancil said he expects construction to start in August or September. Bids for the project will be let in June, he said.

The council in February nixed a deal with University Mall to permanently relocate the library to the mall, deciding to pursue the expansion of the current location. Voters approved bonds for the project in 2003.

In other action the council:

• established a new Community Policing Advisory Committee made up of nine citizens and agreed to start advertising for citizen volunteers to join the new committee; and

• rescheduled consideration of rezoning and special use permit applications for the Aydan Court project on the north side of N.C. Highway 54 at the request of developer Carol Ann Zinn. The council will consider the proposal, which includes 90 condominiums on 5.8 acres, at its April 25 meeting.

2 thoughts on “Council delays decision on larger signs”

  1. Loyd Little says:
    April 1, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Not only should Carrboro not endorse larger signs, it should take the more modern and rational approach and actually reduce the size and the height of signs. Take a look at the new signage restrictions in many other towns now.

    In addition, unless the state doesn’t allow it, Carrboro should reduce the height of traffic signs to match the eye height for drivers, which would be about five or six feet at the most. Many towns, especially in neighboring states are doing this now and it creates a much more handsome drive way through an urban area. Thank you.

  2. Richard Proescher says:
    September 29, 2011 at 12:15 pm

    Is this the Loyd Little who attended the Radical Reunion of the 60s in 1985 in Chapel Hill? I was a civil rights worker during the civil rights struggle. Loyd told me during the reunion that I was the fist protester to be knocked out while trying to integrate the theaters. I’ll love to reconnect with Loyd.

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