The Times reported in its March 25 edition that the Town Council had voted to eliminate the requirement for a permit on A-frame signs.

Town Senior Planner Bob Rodgers said in fact the council vote was to direct staff to prepare an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance that would potentially eliminate the permit requirement.

Until the council considers that amendment, permits are still required, according to Rodgers.

He said the Planning and Zoning Commission would hear the amendment on April 23, and the council would consider it on May 21.

Rodgers said he believes the amendment would be made effective as of ordinance sunset date of Dec. 31, 2015.

The Times apologizes for the misunderstanding.

Staff proposed the change in an effort to improve compliance with sign regulations. Lack of a permit was a rule with a significant number of violations over the past year.

Councilman Henry Leger was somewhat perplexed by this approach.

“You have a requirement, so you take away the requirement to reduce non-compliance with the rules,” Leger said. “What was the original intent of the requirement?”

Senior Planner Bob Rodgers the objective of the annual permit was to have business owners come to staff with the plan for the use of their sign and allow staff to go over the rules for placement, hours as well as penalties for potential violations.

Rodgers said the permit plan has not been effective in educating sign users.

“If you take away the requirement you are artificially improving compliance,” Leger said. “This is a difficult process and we want to be business friendly.

“Education is proactive, enforcement is reactive. This is not about punishing business.

“Everything we have tried to do legislatively hasn’t worked. Non-compliance keeps going up.”

Councilman Nick DePorter suggested using the business license renewal as an opportunity to educate business on the use of the A-frame signs.

Vice Mayor Dennis Brown suggested the council could do nothing and when it comes time to renew the regulations in December let the sunset lapse.

If the rules are not renewed by the sunset date (Dec. 31, 2015) the use of A-frame signs in Fountain Hills would be effectively banned.

Regulations that apply to A-frame signs are defined in the town Zoning Ordinance with sign regulations. Some of the general rules are as follows:

*Only businesses that are physically located within Town commercial or industrial zoning districts or churches in residential zoning districts may display A-frame signs.

*Signs are not to be placed within any paved portion of a street, sidewalk or median. They must be one foot behind the curb or pavement if no curb is present.

*Signs are not to be placed where they pose a hazard.

*Signs are to be no more than 24 inches wide and 36 inches tall.

*Signs must be manufactured and in good repair.

*Signs may be displayed only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

This is not a complete listing of the regulations. See the Town of Fountain Hills Zoning Ordinance for details.