DAPHNE, Ala. —Daphne’s Planning Commission has been in discussions for months to design a solution to the issue of signage along the interstate, and on Wednesday the commission hammered out the final details of an ordinance its members will vote on July 28.

During a special work session last week, commissioners spent two hours discussing possible changes to the city’s interstate sign ordinance, and discussed the draft that Adrienne Jones, community development director, composed. Commissioners made a few more changes and tried to close some loopholes.

The newly proposed ordinance deals with property not currently in an overlay district and that has at least 200 feet of interstate frontage.

The commission and City Council began discussing the issue when a request from New Horizons Retail Development came before the bodies.

The request for a variance to the city’s existing ordinance would have doubled the allowed signage.

The new ordinance deals with issues regarding sign height, property requirements and sight-line studies.

The recently drafted ordinance will be discussed and voted on by the planning commission at a later meeting and the commissioners will provide a recommendation to the council regarding its adoption. Commissioners lack the authority to change the ordinance, and any revisions will only go into effect if the city council approves their proposals.

In the proposed new ordinance, commissioners decided on the following matters:

• Property with less than 200 feet of interstate frontage would be allowed a 40-foot monument sign.
• Property with 201 feet to 500 feet of interstate frontage would be allowed a 45-foot monument sign.
• Property in excess of 10 acres of interstate frontage with three or more tenants would be allowed a development sign up to 90 feet tall and 900 square feet in surface area, pending a sight-line study to determine if the excess height is needed and approval of the planning commission.
• All signs’ height would be determined based upon the height of the center line of Interstate 10 instead of the height of the property.
• Businesses with interstate frontage would be allowed to use up to 30 percent of the back wall of the building for signage purposes as well.
• No electronic or changeable sign faces would be allowed under the new ordinance, if approved.
• Approval of any landscaping would have to be obtained before beginning work on landscaping.

Height specifications determined by the planning commission coincide with the specifications in place at Jubilee Shopping Center.

On Wednesday, the planning commission’s discussions turned to determining who would be eligible to be included in the ordinance to ensure that everyone was being treated fairly.

The commission has been working toward remedying sign issues without creating an overlay district.

The commission also added a provision requiring signs to be at least 500 feet apart along the interstate.