The Planning and Zoning Commission will consider making a recommendation regarding the elimination of a permit requirement for the use of A-frame business signs in Fountain Hills.

The council had indicated in March it would consider dropping the permit requirement and directed staff to prepare the amendment for the process.

In considering options for improving compliance with the A-frame regulations, staff decided the permit requirement was ineffective.

Senior Planner Bob Rodgers, in his report to the commission, said eliminating the permit provision will reduce administration cost, and businesses will still be able to display the signs as they currently do.

However, Rodgers said even with the elimination of the permit, businesses will still have to comply with all the sign regulations related to A-frames, including size, construction, placement and hours.

The amendment will also retain the sunset clause, which makes the signs subject to annual review by the council. If any year the council chooses not to renew the sunset, the signs would be banned.

“Staff believes that the original reason for the permit (educating the business owner), has been shown to be ineffective and that a strict enforcement policy has yielded better compliance results,” Rodgers said in his staff report.

The commission will meet Thursday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall. The meeting is open to the public and there will be a public hearing prior to the commission considering its recommendation.

The council is scheduled to consider the amendment in May.