Politics & Government

Fountain Valley Council Tables Sign Code Changes Amid Public Dissent

A handful of council members also wanted additional changes made before the revised code could be voted on.

The Fountain Valley City Council decided Tuesday night to delay a vote on an ordinance that would have repealed the city's existing sign code to make room for wholesale changes.

Among other changes, the proposed sign code would allow the use of large monument signage by any business with at least 300 square feet of street frontage. Businesses located on corner lots of arterial streets would be allowed two such signs.

Council member Larry Crandall wanted the new code to allow local gas stations to use lighted LED bands on their building and for their pricing signs, and Mayor Steve Nagel asked for the code to include decreased square footage requirements for the use of monument signage as well as increased limits on the size of the signage.

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Council member Mark McCurdy praised the proposal in either form, saying he was pleased to see the city become even more business-friendly. But at least two local residents weren't as enthusiastic, including one very familiar face, former council member Cheryl Brothers.

"I still don't see why gas stations need special circumstances for this banding," she said. "I don't see where you draw the lines. The lights under the canopy are so bright you can do surgery."

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Brothers also suggested that the new code include a provision that would require shopping centers to display their addresses on the tops of their monument signs, an idea that was well-received by the council.

Resident Leslie Montz also spoke out against the increased use of large signage, reminding the council that bigger doesn't always mean better.

"We could have the biggest signs in the world, but if they're ugly, nobody's going to want to shop there anyway," she said. "I'd like to see some attention paid to quality."

The council will continue the public hearing at its Oct. 4 meeting.


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