Did we get any input from the business community about how critical signs are?”
Mayor Rowe asked the planning director who said this did not occur.  From “City Officials Debate New Sign Rules”, Mt Airy News, May 17, 2016.

Mt Airy News reports that city officials are considering a restrictive sign code.   The city’s sign code has historically allowed signs in highway business zones along major roadways with a 500 foot setback.  The new regulations will:

• Require that nonconforming signs be removed when they are damaged to an extend equal.  A city planner was quoted as saying that he expects all non-conforming signs in Mt Airy to be removed within 7 years because they will be degraded by then.

• Require mandatory removal of all non-conforming signs by July 2023.

• Prohibit digital billboards.

• Limit height to 50 square feet.

• Limit billboards to property which fronts US 52 Bypass, US 601 or NC 89 west of US 52 Bypass.

• Prohibit double-stacks.

• Require a 1,000 foot separation between signs and a 500 foot separation fro any residence.

Insider’s take: Mt Airy will face almost certain litigation over the 7 year non-conforming sign amortization clause.  Perhaps someone will ask local businesses what they think about the proposed ordinance and cooler heads will prevail.

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