By Matt Smith/msmith@trcle.com
Proposed changes to Cleburne ordinances addressing business signs and accessory buildings on residential property engendered disagreement Tuesday at a workshop session of the city council.
The first concerned an ordinance dealing with LED, or electronic, signs used by several local businesses. As written, the ordinance allows businesses using such signs to advertise their own business but not others. The LED sign at Caddo Street Grill could not be used to advertise the Liberty Hotel, for example, although businessman Howard Dudley owns both entities, Cleburne Development Services Director Donna Jackson said.
Several have complained, Mayor Ted Reynolds said, and called for council members to consider removing the restriction from the ordinance.
“The message flashes across the sign, and I don’t see what possible difference it makes if they advertise for the business or some other business,” Reynolds said. “Why do we want to use code enforcement resources for this instead of something like the business owner who has high weeds growing up in front of his building and so on?”
The ordinance originated in the 1990s, former Mayor Katherine P. Raines explained, and grew out of a study conducted by an independent firm in the 1970s, which concluded that signage constituted one of the major negatives of Cleburne’s appearance at the time.
Councilman Bob Force several times asked for the names of those complaining about the ordinance, something Reynolds said he did not feel at liberty to disclose.
“This sign ordinance was put in a long time ago; we don’t need to keep revisiting it,” Force said. “I’d like to know who’s complaining. Let them show up here and discuss it.”
Reynolds reiterated that he opposed the ordinance section in question.
“Right now I’m complaining,” Reynolds said. “I don’t like telling people what they can put on their LED signs that they bought for their business.”
Most cities do not allow off-premise advertising on LED signs, Jackson interjected.
“I hate to say, but I’m not particularly interested in what other cities do,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds shook his head no when Force suggested sending the question to the city’s planning and zoning board. The question is a council matter, not under planning and zoning’s purview, Jackson said. Force then called for signed complaints from affected business owners.
“I’m complaining,” Councilman Sonny Russell said.
Cleburne businesswoman Maxine Ammons shouted from the audience that she too was complaining.
“It’s not a big deal,” Reynolds said. “Lets just vote it up or down [in a future council meeting] and forget it. We have too much other stuff to worry about.”
The second ordinance discussed concerns about detached or accessory structures on residential lots. Structures less than 120 square feet will not be affected. Those above must meet certain height and size requirements and match the exterior of the main house. Passage of the ordinance would help minimize neighborhood blight, Force said. Reynolds agreed but argued the ordinance goes too far.
“I’m all for making our neighborhoods better, and we do need to do something,” Reynolds said. “And, I agree, some of those out buildings look terrible. But there’s a fine line between doing something to help the health and welfare of the city and getting into the business of private citizens.”
The ordinance would also prohibit larger prefabricated commercial storage buildings, Reynolds argued. Force said he has no problem with such buildings but opposes the 18-20 foot buildings installed right alongside homes.
“I don’t want to restrict people from the use of their property,” Force said. “But there comes a time when you have to be considerate of your neighbors and neighborhood.”
Councilman John Warren suggested another workshop session with pictures of acceptable and unacceptable structures then sending the ordinance back to planning and zoning with council recommendations before the council votes on the final ordinance.
Assistant City Manager Adam Miles said renovations of the Cleburne Civic Center will take about 18 months if the facility remains open or less time and money if it is closed.
Council members — the decision doesn’t require an official vote during a regular council meeting — expressed support for the latter option. Tentative plans call for shutting the civic center down June 1 with plans to reopen it March 1, Miles said. City officials will contact groups with events scheduled after June 1 to work out alternate arrangements, he said.
The latest royalty check for gas wells on city property totaled about $703,000, City Manager Chester Nolen said.
