PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County commissioners have approved an ordinance that loosens restrictions on the locations of electronic readerboards.
“The ordinance strikes the right balance between the communication needs of the community and governments with local zoning and prudent controls,” County Administrator Philip Morley said before Monday’s vote.
Effective immediately
The law comes into effect immediately.
Commissioner David Sullivan was absent for the vote. The other commissioners, Kathleen Kler and Phil Johnson, voted in favor.
Johnson said he did so reluctantly.
“From my personal point of view, I really don’t like those kind of signs,” Johnson said after the vote.
“What I like or dislike doesn’t apply here.”
An electronic sign uses coordinated lights to spell out a repeated message. They often are used by the state Department of Transportation to alert motorists about road hazards.
Regulations limited these sign types to commercial and industrial zoned areas and prohibit them from areas within 200 feet of residential or open space zones.
Revisions
The revision was prompted by a request from the Jefferson Transit Authority, which in September requested a permit for a readerboard outside of its Four Corners facility, which is adjacent to parcels zoned as rural residential.
Commissioners determined that the proposal, if granted, would violate current sign code.
The planning commission recommended suggested code changes in December.
The revision allows government entities to use the signs within 150 feet of more intensively developed areas, such as Chimacum Corners, and allows signs in residential or open space areas with conditional use permits.
The vote was preceded by a public hearing at which four people — three from Port Ludlow — testified that the use of such signs will enhance communication with their neighbors.
Better communication
“We have tried over the years to find better ways to communicate,” said Brian Belmont, representing the Ludlow Management Commission, a group on the northern part of the community.
“We have a diverse group, and different things work for different people when it comes to communication.”
Glee Hubbard, who has worked as communications manager for the Port Ludlow Village Council, said it will announce ice cream socials, board meetings and community gatherings on such signs.
“We seek to keep our membership embraced in the things that are going around our community,” she said.
“I am absolutely convinced there is no better means than a readerboard to communicate with our neighbors on a daily basis.”
Steve Frenzel said residents need a sign they pass every day to know what’s going on.
“We want to have all the day-to-day activities that people don’t think about until they drive by the sign,” Frenzel said.
“There is nothing intrusive about it. It just enhances the communication quality in the place that we live.”
For the complete sign code, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-signs.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
