Clearing the News Desk #4: What will the city's new sign ordinance prohibit?

(After we posted a news story earlier this month about new restrictions on signs in Decorah, Joe e-mailed several questions:  "Will the revision to the city's zoning code, particularly the city's sign ordinance, ban all electronic signs like Decorah Rental's black and white sign with flashing lights that non-profits sometimes use
to announce one time events like 5K runs?  Will it ban all church digital signs like First Lutheran's, Decorah Lutheran's and Stone Ridge Community Church's?)

The sign ordinance is part of Decorah's overall zoning ordinance.  Changes in the zoning ordinance are hardly ever retroactive--they apply going forward, not backward.

The city's Planning & Zoning Commission approved changes in the sign ordinance because it wanted to prohibit or control the proliferation of electronic and digital signs.  The city council agreed with the P & Z Commission's recommendation.

So...the permanent digital signs used by the three churches you mention will remain in operation--but future signs will be prohibited.

However, the sign ordinance still permits "temporary special event banners or signs advertising a public event," so the "arrow" sign will be allowed because it is temporary.