ITEM DESCRIPTION:
Title
2nd Reading - Ordinance No. 2025-O-05: Request for approval for amendments to Article III, Article VI and Article XX of the Land Development Code.
Body
REQUESTED ACTION:
1. Amend Article III, Section 21-37.05(g), to allow City Staff to determine if the sale of alcohol is acceptable in lieu of City Council for the special event.
2. Amend Article VI of the Land Development Code to allow for one feather flag and one freestanding banner sign per business tax receipt within the approved zoning districts.
3. Amend Article XX of the Land Development Code to eliminate the text regarding payment for the mural application.
LOCATION:
City Wide
BACKGROUND:
On Monday, January 22nd, 2024, the City Council held a workshop regarding backyard chickens, food trucks, pawn shops/tattoo parlors, and feather flags. The Council compromised on a new sign regulation for feather flags. City staff developed a program that would allow one third of business tax receipt holders to have a feather flag displayed for one month per quarter. The fee for the feather flag per quarter is $100. During this pilot feather flag program, only three members of the public inquired about the feather flag permit. No feather flag permits were utilized. City Council on Monday, January 27th, 2025 held a workshop to discuss feather flags and sign regulations. At this workshop, the City Council gave staff the directive to rewrite the land development code to reflect the above changes.
City staff will note the changes to the land development code will make it much easier to advertise in the City of Edgewater. The requested changes could cause substantial visual congestion along Ridgewood Avenue. Article XX of the land development code was implemented to “ensure high quality private development including signage”.
City staff are proposing a text amendment change to Article III, Section 21-37.05(g) to allow City staff to determine the appropriateness of the sale of alcohol in lieu of City Council. The applicant applying for a special activity permit must be heard before City Council if the applicant is proposing the sale of alcohol. Recent applicants over the last year and a half are applying to the Development Services Department a few weeks prior to their event. The land development code requires a minimum of sixty (60) days. Putting a special activity permit onto the agenda for City Council is a cumbersome task and unnecessary. City staff believes the Technical Review Committee should have the authority to permit or deny the sale of alcohol at a special event. The Technical Review Committee is composed of the Fire Chief, Police Chief, City Manager, Development Services Director, Economic Development Director, and the Environmental Services Director.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT:
The City anticipates that the new fees will generate additional revenue for the City of Edgewater. The City is reducing permit fees which will allow more businesses the opportunity to advertise. City staff contend that an increase in permit fees will occur because City staff at the direction of the Council have created a new sign and associated permit.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Staff recommends City Council approve Ordinance No. 2025-O-05.