HomeMy WebLinkAboutWRITTEN INPUT #1 3.04.2021 Winston Dyer - 21-00079 - Berry Oil Development - Dev. Code Amend. - Sign Height in Interchange
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March 4, 2021
Rexburg City Council
Rexburg Planning and Zoning Commission
Re: input on Sign Height
Dear Officials:
I have appreciated the opportunity to be deeply involved in Rexburg planning for many years, 13
of which were serving as Chair of the P & Z Commission. While I am no longer directly
involved, I do keep an eye on planning issues in general and saw that the issue of sign heights
at interchanges has come up for a hearing – and wish to give input in the hopes that it will be
valuable in evaluating the situation and facilitating good decision-making.
Years ago we made a concerted effort to gather public input to be able to identify the prevailing
desires of the community with regard to planning and growth issues. I along with other
members of the Commission spent many hours at popular venues in town conducting in person
surveys with people about citizen preferences and gathering input from the residents on what
they desired to see in their community.
One issue that came to light was that Rexburg is blessed with an incredible visual vista from R
Mountain and the Lost River Range on the west, to the temple and the grandiose Tetons on the
east, among the verdant green of our beautiful valley north and south – with a clear message
from the citizens that this unmatched resource should be should be proactively protected and
preserved.
Similarly, the question of signage was discussed in general and the response from the residents
was clear and significant that people wanted to see the number of signs held to a minimum if
possible, and that sign sizes be limited so as to not create a distraction or draw undue attention.
Citizens wanted others to see the beauty of our community and not have their attention focused
on signage and commercial ventures.
Later the issue came up specifically with regard to signs around the freeway interchanges. With
the input and background described above, as a Commission working with the Council we were
able to protect and preserve this natural asset by limiting sign height to 30 feet (with the
exception of a single presently existing, nonconforming use). After continuing pressure from the
business community, at a later date the Council consented to raising the maximum sign height
near interchanges to 40 feet.
For many years that has been the limitation on sign height around the interchanges and it was
done specifically to preserve and protect our visual vista – which is one of the great attractions
of our community. In other words, the aesthetic appeal and visual presentation of our
community in its setting are a significant asset attracting people here…which brings appreciably
more value to the overall community than to the private, for-profit operation of individual
businesses or entities.
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We have done that before – when Applebee’s was trying to get their restaurant plans approved
they wanted to have neon lights around their building as is their standard. At the time we did
not allow neon lights in community and told them so. They threatened to go elsewhere and we
invited them to do so if that is how they felt about it, but obviously they understood the value of
being located in a beautiful and attractive place like Rexburg and removed the neon lights from
their building design (and kept their sign within the allowable height). Obviously they have been
tremendously successful and a wonderful asset to the community ever since.
That is an example of what can be achieved with determination to protect and preserve our
community assets and work with new commercial ventures to the extent we can to
accommodate them. Hopefully they can understand that the benefits of our community are their
benefits as well, which will ultimately help them in their business ventures.
I see the proposal is to raise the sign height in interchange areas to 70 feet. I have presented
all of this background to help everyone understand that allowing the sign height to increase to
that level will be a great detriment to the Rexburg community and our visual assets. It will do
everything to draw attention to the commercial aspect of our community and the financial gain of
an individual business while sacrificing the overall benefit and asset to the entire community –
contrary to what the citizens have time and time again indicated is their desire for our city.
I wish to go on record as opposing the proposal as being ill-advised with respect to the greater
good and community interest, and certainly encourage my colleagues in Planning and Zoning
and my elected officials on the Council to understand and appreciate this background and
position so as to preserve and protect the beautiful aesthetic appeal and look and feel of our
wonderful community. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Winston R. Dyer
Interested Citizen (and former P & Z Chair)