Chandler’s COVID-era business sign permissions to end
Courtesy of City of Chandler
Leah Powell, Chandler's neighborhood resources director, answers questions about the repeal of a COVID-era exemption for business signs during a Feb. 3 study session. The city is returning to the listed sign restrictions and permitting process in its code.
The Thursday, Feb. 6 Chandler City Council agenda includes a possible repeal of a resolution.
Unlike some repeals of resolutions and ordinances, it’s a proposed reversal in policy not really due to shifting politics or the makeup of council.
Resolution 5870 would rescind Resolution 5361, which authorized extended use of temporary signs to promote Chandler businesses. If approved at Thursday’s 6 p.m. meeting, set to be held at Chandler City Hall, 88 E. Chicago St. in downtown Chandler, that permission would return to specific limits and procedures already in city code.
Resolution 5361, approved by council in late April of 2020, also authorized the city’s zoning administrator to waive provisions of the city code as “reasonably necessary to promote Chandler businesses during the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.”
A staff report said that April 2020 action was specifically tied to the pandemic and was intended to be “sunsetted” upon a return to normal operating conditions.
The city’s neighborhood resources director, Leah Powell, told council at a Feb. 3 study session that the restrictions that will go back into place have to do mainly with the dimensions and quantity of business signs and frequency the signs can be displayed.
She listed A- and T-frame, feather (flexible) and a wide variety of banners as examples of the signs that have been unrestricted since April 2020.
Resolution 5361 also eliminated time limits and permitting requirements to support local businesses. Resolution 5870 would restore the original sign requirements outlined in City Code Chapter 39-10.
Powell said it’s in the best interest of the city and it’s her intent to do as much informing as possible about the return to policy before meting out consequences.
“There’s always an education period needed at the start of something like this, to some extent,” Powell said. “Certainly, if we find there are a number of businesses that are not in compliance or have challenges complying, we’re going to do our very best to really work with them and get them into compliance before we start issuing violations.”
Powell and City Manager Josh Wright both said getting the word out about this return to policy will be multi-faceted. It will include communication between the city and the Chandler Business Association and similar organizations in the weeks and months ahead.
Powell said “bandit signs,” typically staked into the ground or attached to sign poles on city property or rights-of-way, were always banned, even during COVID allowances. City staff does its best to keep up and observe or respond to calls about removing such signs, she said.
A 30-day “education period” will be followed by a subsequent “courtesy notice” 30-day period, the staff report states.
Regular enforcement of the sign code will resume after this 60-day transition period.
We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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