Soldotna is one step closer to a robust sign code after the city council approved a new sign ordinance at its meeting Nov. 8.

The latest ordinance will allow for sandwich board signs and amended the sign code to clarify language pertaining to temporary signs within the city. Although a majority of the work on the sign code revamp is still to come, City Planner John Czarnezki said that it was important to push forward with the sandwich board ordinance

“We’re still working,” said Czarnezki. “We pulled this one out because when we first started looking at the thing, this one had business owners very concerned. … We wanted to get this taken care of quickly so that they would know what would be allowed.”

The new ordinance states that a sandwich board sign is defined as “a freestanding, portable, temporary sign consisting of two faces so that it is self-standing, whose message is targeted to pedestrians and motorists.”

No permit is required for sandwich board signs, but a set of standards must be followed which state that a sandwich board sign is limited to six square feet per sign face, can be up to four feet from the ground and the signs can not be illuminated.

Only one sandwich board sign is allowed per parcel except if there is more than one street frontage, in which case an additional sign is permitted at the second frontage.

The other change within the sign code sets the limit to temporary signs at 30 days and removes all language that could be problematic to the city, Czarneski said.

“It used to be tied to special events and holidays,” he said. “Now, it’s content neutral, which is the way our sign code should be. Folks can just display anything on that temporary sign, whether it’s advertising for a position for hire, a special, or a new business. They have that ability once receiving a planning and zoning permit.”

Czarneski said that additional resolutions and ordinances will come forward as the city continues to work on it’s sign code.

“We’re still shooting for the Spring of 2018,” Czarneski said. “We have a few other things, like marijuana and annexation, that are taking precedence but we’re still on target.”

Reach Kat Sorensen at kat.sorensen@peninsulaclarion.com