The York County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to amend the county zoning ordinance related to sidewalk signs and exterior signs on buildings near the water in Yorktown.
Sheila Noll voted no on the proposal, which the Planning Commission voted 7-0 in March to recommend that the Supervisors adopt. The biggest changes are as follows:
- The size allowance for signs mounted on walls in the Waterfront area increases from the current limit of 5 square-feet to a limit of 1 square foot per foot of building width, with a maximum of 50 square feet.
- Each business in a multi-tenant building can now display temporary signs and banners for up to 120 days per year. Before, only one sign could be displayed per parcel of land for 120 days per year.
- Businesses can display sidewalk signs within 15 feet of the front of their building.
By increasing the size allowance for signs mounted on walls, the supervisors hope to increase the visibility of businesses in the area that are set away from the streets in Yorktown. Signage in the area is still subject to approval by the Historic Yorktown Design Committee.
The previous ordinance related to multi-tenant buildings and temporary signs was a cause of frustration for area shopping centers. For example, James-York Plaza on Merrimac Trail, which boasts over a dozen stores, could only have a single temporary sign on display. It was up to the manager of the property to dole out time to tenants. Now, each tenant can have a temporary sign.
During his presentation of the proposed ordinance amendments, Assistant County Administrator J. Mark Carter said these signs typically contain messages like “grand opening,” “now accepting enrollment,” or similar things.
The sidewalk signs can’t be taller than 4 feet or wider than 2 and a half feet.
Nobody spoke at the public hearing for the amendment changes, and the supervisors did not discuss the changes following Carter’s presentation, instead moving the matter to a vote.
Chairman Walt Zaremba provided an update on Vice-Chairman Don Wiggins, who has been sidelined from a blood infection for weeks. He said Wiggins hopes to be back in action in about seven weeks. That would put him on track for a return in early June.
“He had a couple of setbacks in the last week,” Zaremba said. “He’s hoping to be a part of the [May 7 vote to adopt a budget for 2014].”
Zaremba said he has heard that rumors are circulating in the Seaford area — part of Wiggins’ District Three — that Wiggins won’t be returning. Zaremba referred to those rumors as “grossly exaggerated and out of line.”
County officials are looking into allowing Wiggins to take part in the budget process remotely. He’s missed all of the budget work sessions except for a joint work session with the York County School Board on February 5. Wiggins last attended a meeting Feb. 19.
The Supervisors will next meet April 23 for a work session that will further examine the breakdown between discretionary and mandated spending in the proposed budget for 2014. They began to discuss that breakdown at the April 3 work session, but they requested that County Administrator James McReynolds provide them with further information at a later work session. A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled at 7 p.m. April 25 at York Hall.
