Proposed ordinance update seeks greater control of electronic signs

New LED electronic signs in Bettendorf would face tighter controls on brightness and rate of message display under a revised ordinance approved by the city planning and zoning commission and sent to the city council for consideration.

The intensity of such signs would be limited to 5,000 candelas per square meter during daylight hours and a maximum of 500 candelas per square meter between dusk to dawn under the proposed changes.

"The illumination levels (5,000 and 500 candalas) are not a guaranteed allowable level of brightness," according to the proposed sign ordinance. "When a citizen complaint of a violation of this section has been confirmed by the Zoning Administrator, said sign shall have its illumination permanently reduced to satisfy compliance with this section. . ."

The proposed ordinance also limits the electronic changing of copy of such signs to no faster than once every six seconds, with flashing and video prohibited. Message scrolling is allowed.

An LED sign in the 2400 block of 18th Street has prompted numerous complaints from nearby residents and motorists. When the sign was allowed to be enlarged, the owner agreed to turn off the sign during night time hours beginning at 10 p.m.

Other proposed changes to the sign ordinance would:

• Make it tougher for non-conforming signs to be repaired. If an older sign needs replacement or repair beyond 50 percent of its original cost, it would need to conform to the current sign ordinance. Currently, non-conforming signs are allowed to be repaired multiple times with no conformity to current standards.
• Add the width of the business frontage to the calculation of the allowed sign size for on-premise signs and sets a minimum and maximum sign square footage regardless of lot frontage.
• Limits billboards (off premise advertising signs) to, or within, 500 feet of interstate, U.S. and state highways.
• Requires use of a combined "shopping center sign" rather than multiple on-premises identification signs when three or more businesses are located in a single development. The change would help eliminate sign clutter.

CLICK HERE to download the proposed sign ordinance changes.