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STAFF REPORT <br /> Decatur City Plan Commission <br /> COMMON NAME: City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance <br /> GENERAL INFORMATION <br /> Hearing Date September 6, 2012 <br /> Calendar No. 12-33 <br /> Requested Action Amendments to Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance#3512) <br /> Petitioner Billy Tyus, Assistant City Manager <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> The current City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance was adopted in May of 2002. Since the time of adoption, <br /> Staff has discovered certain necessary changes, discrepancies and omissions as the new ordinance has <br /> been implemented, specifically in SECTION XXV. Signage. It is Staff's hope that these changes will <br /> make the Zoning Ordinance more comprehensive and applicable to the changing built urban environment <br /> all the while keeping the charge of making Decatur a beautiful place to live, work and play. <br /> The proposed amendment to Signage involves political signs and laws enacted by the State of Illinois. <br /> The city's current sign regulations do not distinguish political campaign signs from non-political signs. <br /> However, a recent change to the Illinois Municipal Code restricts municipalities from prohibiting the <br /> display of outdoor campaign signs on residential property during any period of time. Municipalities still <br /> may enforce "reasonable restrictions" for the size of political campaign signs. <br /> DESCRIPTION <br /> Add SECTION XXV.B.16 (Signage-Political Signs): <br /> 16. Political Signs <br /> Outdoor political campaign signs on residential property for residential use are exempt from the time <br /> period regulations and the number of temporary signs to be displayed as outlined in the following <br /> subsections." <br /> STAFF RECOMMENDATION <br /> 1. Staff recommends approval of the amendment as proposed. <br /> PLAN COMMISSION ACTION <br /> 1. Section XXIX.G. of the Zoning Ordinance requires the Plan Commission to hold a public hearing <br /> and make recommendations to the City Council on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. A <br /> motion to forward Calendar Number 12-33 to City Council with a recommendation of approval is <br /> suggested. <br /> The above report constitutes the testimony and recommendation of the Division of Planning and <br /> Sustainability, Department of Planning and Building Services, City of Decatur. <br /> Suzan M. Stickle <br /> Senior Planner <br /> ATTACHMENTS <br /> 1. Petition <br />