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Law Would Limit Sign Heights On I-4

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By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

PLANT CITY - The city is considering a law that would ban new signs taller than 45 feet along Interstate 4.

Public hearings on the proposal are Nov. 26 and Dec. 10.

The eight signs in the interstate corridor that exceed that height limit would be allowed to stay, unless they are destroyed by hurricane or other disaster, officials said.

The amended law was drafted at the request of commissioners, who sought "a balance of aesthetics and visibility" along the highway, Assistant City Manager Greg Horwedel said.

Officials last year approved a revised law that limited new commercial signs out of the interstate corridor to a maximum height of 25 feet. After the ordinance was approved, commissioners asked city staff to study signs along the interstate.

Officials were aware that the 25-foot limit unanimously approved in October 2006 would be too short for the interstate, however signs more than 100 feet tall - such as one for McDonald's - seemed too tall, Horwedel said.

During the past year, officials reviewed the sign regulations of Tampa, Lakeland and Hillsborough and Polk counties and found that "other governments do not allow taller or higher signage next to an interstate," Planning Director Rob Anders said in a report prepared for commissioners.

Tampa's maximum sign height along an interstate is 35 feet, and Lakeland's is between 15 and 35 feet depending on zoning regulations, Anders said in his report.
Five signs at Plant City interstate exits, erected before the adoption of a 1990 ordinance or allowed through a variance, tower more than 100 feet, according to a city staff report. The McDonald's fast food restaurant sign near the ramps at Thonotosassa Road and I-4 is the tallest at 130 feet, and the Waffle House sign at that interchange is 125 feet. Other signs topping 100 feet include Starbucks, 120 feet, Outback Steakhouse, 110 feet and Red Rose Inn and Suites, 110 feet.

Other tall I-4 signs include Carabba's, 84 feet, Fleetwood, 75 feet, and Bill Heard Chevrolet, 65 feet.

The proposal also limits signs to 350 square feet and restricts I-4 corridor signs from being within 200 feet of any cemetery, public park or residential district, among other amendments to the code.

Current square footage of interstate commercial signs average nearly 400, Anders said in his report. Bill Heard's sign tops out at 488 square feet, the Waffle House sign is 425 square feet and the Starbucks sign measures 392 square feet.

The public hearings will be held Nov. 26 and Dec. 10 during the city commission's regularly scheduled meetings, which start at 7:30 p.m. in city hall, 302 W. Reynolds St.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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