Ordinance bans LED signs in downtown Port

Port Washington officials on Tuesday took steps to retain the charm of downtown by approving an ordinance that will prohibit electronic changeable letter signs — aka LED signs — in the heart of the city. 

“What downtown looks like is how it should stay,” Mayor Ted Neitzke said.

He called the LED signs the neon signs of today, but Bob Harris, the city’s director of planning and development, said he believes neon signs offer a bit of nostalgia and ambience in the community.

Although the signs are prohibited downtown, the new ordinance allows them in three business districts as well as the public utility lands and RS4 residential districts.

The signs may not contain moving or flashing text, images or animation and may not change more frequently than every 10 seconds.

There are also limits on the brightness of the message boards and a prohibition on white backgrounds, which are the most distracting and glaring, Harris said.

LED signs must be no larger than 12 square feet — 10 in residential areas — with no more than two faces, and they must be incorporated into a monument sign that is no more than five feet tall.

Harris, who brought up the idea of regulating LED signs two years ago after noticing they are becoming more common, noted that the Plan Commission did not make a recommendation on the new rules.

“I would just like to know why?” Ald. John Sigwart said.

The commission originally recommended prohibiting the signs but aldermen rejected that idea, Public Works Director Rob Vanden Noven, a member of the commission, said. 

When reconsidering the ordinance, commission members had “a myriad of different ideas” and decided to pass the matter on to the council without a recommendation,  Ald. Paul Neumyer, who sits on the commission, said.

Mayor Ted Neitzke said, “We made it clear it wasn’t their decision. It was the council’s.”

Ald. Mike Gasper questioned the allowance for residential areas, something Harris said is included because some churches and schools with the signs are in these zoning districts.

“What prevents a resident from contracting with someone (to put up a business sign in their yard)?” he asked.

He suggested the city consider setting up an alternative zoning district for churches and schools where these signs would be allowed.

If that can’t be done legally, he said, it should look at establishing a lower light level in residential areas that would make it less likely that businesses would advertise there.

“You could certainly do that,” City Attorney Eric Eberhardt said.

The ordinance originally called for the images and text on LED signs to remain for at least 60 seconds, but that time was decreased after aldermen raised concerns during the law’s initial review earlier this month.

But Tuesday, it was changed again.

“I cannot support this with a 30 second time in there,” Ald. Dan Benning said, noting the standard is to change the message every five to 10 seconds. “Businesses are investing in these signs. People driving by are going to see one bit of information, not two or three as intended.”

Sigwart suggested a compromised of 15 seconds, but agreed to the 10 second time limit.

That allows four vehicles to pass before the message changes, Harris said.