Carson City's planning commission to take look at sign ordinance

Carson City planning leaders are considering whether billboards should be on the freeway at all and how other signs that point to the freeway should look.

Also being brought before the Planning Commission for their recommendation Wednesday are changes in rules about signs promoting auto dealerships.

City leaders and many residents have said they don't want billboards along the freeway, said Lee Plemel, the city's principal planner.

Earlier this year, the Nevada Department of Transportation attempted to have an oversized ad billboard placed on Highway 50 East and Russell Way that pointed to the freeway. The city said no.

NDOT returned with a request for a billboard in the same spot that complied with current codes, and was granted permission to put it up.

There are a limited number of permitted billboard sites in the city and there are no plans to increase that number, Plemel said.

Signs on commercial property that would be visible from the freeway also will be discussed during the meeting. While helping people find retailers is good for the city's tax base, the idea is to avoid "sign-clutter," Plemel emphasized.

Rules to be determined include distances from residential areas, sign heights and face sizes.

Being brought to the commissioners separately for their recommendation are proposed changes in the city's rules for design of auto dealership signs.

"We looked at some national sign standards, especially for cities in Nevada and California," said Walt Sullivan, the city's community development director, of the auto dealership sign code amendment being presented.

Some ideas for the auto signs include a height of no more than 32 feet and sign face no larger than 200 square feet.

The goal is to allow for visibility and recognition of the automobile sign designs while not allowing the designs to be large and overwhelming, Sullivan wrote in his report.

If you go

What: Carson City Planning Commission meeting

When: Sign issue is on the agenda for 6 p.m. Wednesday. Meeting starts at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Sierra Room, Community Center, 851 E. William St.