BRENHAM CITY COUNCIL APPROVES SIGNAGE CHANGES

  

After months of talks on updating Brenham’s sign ordinance, new signage rules will officially be put into place.

The Brenham City Council voted Thursday to approve numerous changes to the sign ordinance, following several meetings with city officials and the public.

The changes allow for an increased amount of signage types; clarify sign permit standards, maintenance standards, and enforcement responsibilities; and bring the city in line with recent legislation and court rulings.

These changes include ones recently discussed by Main Street board members. The council approved the Main Street board’s recommendations to direct staff to review current sidewalk signs downtown and see if 12 square feet for sidewalk signage is the “prevailing standard”.  In addition, properties with multiple entrances on multiple parallel streets can now be offered one sidewalk sign per corresponding entrance.  The passing of this ordinance will also allow the previously proposed pilot program for downtown sidewalk signs to begin a trial run.

The council also passed recommendations from Planning and Zoning Commissioners. These allow an increased sign area of electronic signs along Highway 290 and Highway 36 from 50 to 64 square feet, and an increased height of residential entry to monument signs from 5 to 8 feet.

One newly proposed change was suggested by Councilmember Adonna Saunders, who asked that the limit for non-commercial residential signs be raised from two to four, allowing 24 square feet cumulatively.

Newly promoted Development Services Director Stephanie Doland, as announced by City Manager James Fisher, said she would work with City Attorney Carey Bovey on preparing different language in the ordinance for “patriotic” and “seasonal” times. This would potentially allow for an increased amount of residential signs at different parts of the year, such as holidays.  She said this language would be considered at second reading of the ordinance.

The council also approved changes to an economic agreement for a planned shopping center on Highway 290 and Chappell Hill Street. The city and Washington County entered into a sales tax abatement with developer Baker Katz earlier this year for the shopping center.

The agreement previously said that complete construction of the building to be occupied by the first tenant in the project will happen no later than January 2021. It also said the city will be responsible for the design and construction of Chappell Hill Road widening improvements, from the Highway 290 Eastbound service road to the southern line of the Baker Katz property.

The approved changes push back the required date for the first tenant to July 2021, and make the road widening project contingent on the results of a city traffic analysis report. Fisher previously said this would allow the developer increased flexibility.  He also said the traffic analysis report is in final draft, and the final version should be available for review in the next 30 to 60 days.

The council also:

• Gave final payment to Thielemann Construction for the public restrooms project at Fireman’s Park.  The total amount for final payment was $42,416, bringing the total amount paid to Thielemann to $282,587.
• Approved an agreement with Strand Associates to begin the second phase of improvements at Henderson Park.  Phase II includes restroom/concession stand improvements, along with an overhaul to the baseball field and new lighting.  The Brenham Community Development Corporation has allocated $600,000 for the project.  Public Works Director Dane Rau said Phase I is still ongoing, and should be done within the next two to three months.
• Tabled a change order to an agreement with Strand Associates for Fiscal Year 2019 water main replacements.  Bovey said the item needs to be reworded.
• Gave final payment to Progressive Commercial Aquatics for repairs to the outdoor leisure pool at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.  Total payment for work was $123,380.
• Authorized the donation of old public safety radios to the Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications System (BVWACS).
• Approved an agreement with TxDOT to temporarily close state right-of-way for the Hot Nights, Cool Tunes summer concert series in downtown Brenham.

The council then adjourned into executive session to discuss security needs of City Hall and other city facilities.

You can view details on the new sign ordinance here, beginning on page 28.