Sign Case Developments After Reed eed v. T Tow own of of G - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Sign Case Developments After Reed eed v. T Tow own of of G Gilbert rt APA 2016 National Conference Professor Alan Weinstein Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University
APA 2016 National Conference
Professor Alan Weinstein Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Cleveland State University a.weinstein@csuohio.edu
Commercial/Non-Commercial Distinction
the issue find the distinction is still valid
Central Hudson intermediate scrutiny … not strict scrutiny
Commercial/Non-Commercial Distinction
does not purport to eliminate the distinction between commercial and noncommercial
speech, and does not even mention Central Hudson.”
Lamar Cent. Outdoor, LLC v. City of Los Angeles, 2016 WL 911406, (Cal. Ct. App. Mar. 10, 2016)
ruled the distinction is still valid … but
5231911 (W.D. Tenn.)
(W.D.Tenn.)
“[t]he only way to determine whether a sign is an on-premise sign, is to consider the content of the sign and determine whether that content is sufficiently related to the ‘activities conducted on the property on which they are located.’ ”
Tenn.)
Justice Alito's concurrence in Reed is inapposite to the instant analysis. Not only is the concurrence not binding precedent, but the concurrence fails to provide any analytical background as to why an on- premise exemption would be content neutral.
2016 W.L. 360775 (4th Cir. 2016)
service
375 s
Central Radio seeks injunction
were reasonably related to city’s interests in traffic safety/aesthetics
petition, S.Ct. vacates/remands
content-based under Reed
“Although interests in aesthetics and traffic safety may be substantial government goals, neither we nor the Supreme Court have ever held that they constitute compelling government interests.”
No evidence that restrictions on non-government flags or works of art that refer to product/service was necessary to eliminate threats to safety or to achieve aesthetic goals
(S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2015)
not political signs, from restrictions placed
based restriction that did not withstand strict scrutiny
Time, Place & Manner Regulations
8780560 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 14, 2015) …upheld a content-neutral ban on all painted wall signs
7280226 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 18, 2015) … upheld a content-neutral prohibition on signs extending more than 40 feet above curb level as a reasonable time, place, and manner restriction on speech
Fallout from Reed Panhandling/Solicitation Cases
713 (7th Cir. 2014)
“downtown historic district” … panhandling defined as an oral request for an immediate donation of money
later were allowed
persons found oral request threatening … especially at night or when no one else is nearby
Fallout from Reed Panhandling/Solicitation Cases
IL, 806 F.3d 411 (7th Cir. 2015)
the topic discussed’”
Fallout from Reed Panhandling/Solicitation Cases
“[p]anhandling while at any time before, during, or after the solicitation knowingly approaching within five feet of the solicited person.”
“vocal appeal” for “an immediate donation
Fallout from Reed Panhandling/Solicitation Cases
8023461 (C.D. IL)
the content of the speech
ask someone to sign a petition or even to solicit support for causes/organizations …
donation of money or other gratuity”
Fallout from Reed Panhandling/Solicitation Cases
5728755 (D. Colo.)
“At times, threatening behavior may accompany panhandling, but the correct solution is not to outlaw panhandling. The focus must be on the threatening behavior. Thus, the problem in this case is that Grand Junction has taken a sledgehammer to a problem that can and should be solved with a scalpel.”
Next Issue?
CASE STUDY: CITY OF SPARKS, NEVA VADA
Content Neutral
No discretionary permits No on-premises versus off-premise signs Signs regulated by place (i.e. building or freestanding) Maximum size determined by sign placement:
Law suit against City settled in 2001, United States District Court for the District of Nevada ruled that City cannot prevent the construction of off-premise signs Adopted Content Neutral Sign Code in January 2002 Updated Sign Code and adopted December 2014
Sign Code categorized by:
Do not look at the sign content Regulate by placement and size (sign category) In Industrial Zoning allowed one Special Freestanding Sign
Portable Other Temporary Signs
Maximum size – 8 square feet Display only during business hours Must be located within 20 feet of public entrance Not located in public ROW, drive aisle, parking lot, landscaping or pedestrian way No temporary sign permit required
Subject to approval by property
Requires issuance of Temporary Sign Permit $35 for each temporary sign permit Requires temporary sign permit good for calendar year (January – December) Must renew annually
Allowed 2 signs per public entrance with maximum of 8 per site Located on private property Maximum size – 18 square feet If site has digital sign then maximum is reduced by 2 signs Setback minimum – 1 foot for every foot of height from ROW Cannot be higher than roof or parapet of building
Cannot be affixed to structure or vegetation, utility structures or traffic signs / poles Cannot be permanently affixed to building or structure Must be kept neat and clean – not faded, torn or damaged May not be illuminated Exception – Vacant buildings – may display temporary sign affixed to building not exceeding 80 square feet and does not require temporary sign permit
Started the program in January 2015 Printed informational flyer Distributed to all businesses, homebuilders and industries Code Enforcement talks to business and/or leaves notice Contact Planning
Period from 1st day of filing to 10 days after election (Federal, State, County or City) No limitation on number of signs or size Do not count against maximum allowable sign area No sign permit required Not placed in ROW, drains, ditches, flood channels or river belt Not affixed permanently No illumination No spacing requirement
In 2015 (first year) Issued 135 temporary sign permits in 2015 (total of 28 businesses) 49 temporary sign permits issued were for businesses that needed them for a short period of time (11 businesses) December 2015 – sent out reminder letters
In 2016 To date issued 43 temporary sign permits 8 businesses renewals to date plus 1 new permit Approximately 50% compliance
Getting businesses to get temporary sign permit especially seasonal businesses Getting businesses to comply with number of signs and placement Getting businesses to put sticker on temporary sign
Home Builders standards Understaffed to regulate Sign Code - new process more time consuming but getting more compliance than previous regulations Regulating maximum number of signs per site Election Period exception
Temporary Signs are the hardest type of signs to regulate Advantages of Content Neutral Sign Code When dealing with Signs it is best to be proactive Temporary Signs and the Reed Case
Contact Information: Karen Melby, AICP 775-353-7878 / kmelby@cityofsparks.us
Re g ula ting Sig ns a fte r Re e d v. T
t
Be st Pr ac tic e s in Re gulating T e mpo r ar y Signs
Pe rma ne nt vs. T e mpora ry
With sign r
e gulations, it is e asie st to r e gulate pe r mane nt signs.
A pe rma ne nt struc ture is
muc h like a fe nc e , she d, o r b uilding
T
he b ig g e st issue typic a lly re la te s to o ff-pre mise sig ns (a .k.a ., b illb o a rds)
Pe rma ne nt vs. T e mpora ry
F
r e e spe e c h c halle nge s r e late d to a pe r mane nt sign ar e le ss c ommon… but the y ar e out the r e .
“…it is tr uly a He r c ule an task to wade thr
e o f F ir st Ame ndme nt o pinio ns to asc e r tain the state o f the law r e lating to sign r e gulatio ns.”
ipp City v. Mic hae l F . Dakin, e t. al. Co ur t o f Appe als o f Ohio , 2nd Distr ic t, Miami Co unty
Pra c tic a l Implic a tions
T
he bigge st str uggle s te nd to be te mpor ar y signs.
Administra tio n a nd e nfo rc e me nt is
typic a lly mo re c o mplic a te d (no t a
T
e mpo ra ry sig ns a re c o nsta ntly e vo lving .
Wha t is a re a so na b le numb e r o r
size ?
Ho w lo ng is te mpo ra ry? At wha t
po int do the y mo rph into a pe rma ne nt sig n?
No pe rma ne nt lo c a tio n Co nte nt-ne utra lity
Pre - Re e d vs. Post Re e d
One q ue stio n a nswe re d le a ds to mo re
q ue stio ns a ske d
On-pre mise vs. o ff-pre mise de te rmina tio n? Co mme rc ia l spe e c h vs. no nc o mme rc ia l
spe e c h (fre e spe e c h) de te rmina tio n?
T e mpora ry Sig ns
Be st Pra c tic e s Guide
A ye ar
e se ar c h
Sur
ve y of c ommunitie s
Or
dinanc e r e vie w
Re vie w c ommitte e Ge ne r
al r e se ar c h
De ve lopme nt of guide
Ge ne ra l b e st pra c tic e s Be st pra c tic e s b y
te mpo ra ry sig n type
Coming Soon! Re vision with post- Re e d analysis and r e c omme ndations?
T e mpor ar y Sign vs. Me ssage
T
e mpora ry Sig n
T
he e ntire struc ture is te mpo ra ry o r po rta b le .
No t inte nde d to b e a
pe rma ne nt insta lla tio n.
T e mpor ar y Sign vs. Me ssage
T
e mpora ry Me ssa g e
T
he sig n struc ture is pe rma ne ntly insta lle d b ut de sig ne d so the me ssa g e c a n c ha ng e ma nua lly o r e le c tro nic a lly.
Avoid T r e ating all T e mpor ar y Signs the Same
Ma ny c ommunitie s ha ve
te mpora ry sig ns (e .g ., 14 da ys, up to four time s a ye a r)
Pose s a proble m for:
Pro pe rtie s tha t a re fo r
sa le o r le a se fo r lo ng pe rio ds o f time
Side wa lk sig ns T
e mpo ra ry, se a so na l use s
Avoid T r e ating all T e mpor ar y Signs the Same
Re e d a lso pose s issue s for ma king a lot of e xc e ptions
(e .g ., sig ns on prope rtie s for sa le , sig ns tie d to spe c ia l e ve nts, e tc .)
Post- Re e d Dire c tion
Allo w a c e rta in a mo unt o f te mpo ra ry sig n sq ua re fo o ta g e
ye a r-ro und. Amo unt va rie s b y zo ning distric t.
Ofte n re stric te d to side wa lk sig ns, b a nne r sig ns, a nd ya rd sig ns
Pro vide fo r so me a dditio na l te mpo ra ry sig na g e tha t is
time re stric te d (“x” da ys a nd up to “x” numb e r o f time s a ye a r
Allo w fo r b ro a de r o ptio ns o n sig n type s
Administr ation and E nfor c e me nt
Ide ntifie d by pla nne rs a s one
Mo ve me nt to use mo re
te c hno lo g y
Online pe rmitting Use o f c a le nda r a pps
Putting mo re b urde n o n the
a pplic a nts
Stic ke rs o r ta g s
Sig n T ype s
Balloon Signs & Air Ac tivate d Gr aphic s
Communitie s e ithe r ha te the m or tole ra te the m… a nd tha t is oka y
F
se tb a c ks
Do n’ t wo rry a b o ut if the re is te xt, lo g o , o r
L imit time pe rmitte d/ o c c urre nc e s
Re q uire a pe rmit
Ba nne r Sig ns
One of the most c ommonly pe rmitte d te mpora ry sig n type s
E sta b lish ma ximum size
I f a tta c he d to sta ke s in the g ro und, tre a t a s a ya rd sig n
Ma y o r ma y no t re q uire a pe rmit
Mig ht c o nside r a llo wing the se fo r lo ng e r time pe rio ds if de sire d sig n type
Bla de Sig ns
One of the most c ommonly pe rmitte d te mpora ry sig n type s
F
a nd width due to va rie ty o f sha pe s
Se t a ma ximum numb e r, pe rha ps b y fro nta g e
Ma y o r ma y no t re q uire a pe rmit
Se tb a c ks ma y b e ne c e ssa ry de pe nding o n ho w fa r the y fle x o r c a n mo ve
F re e sta nding / Ya rd Sig ns
One of the most c ommonly pe rmitte d te mpora ry sig n type s
Mo st like ly the type to b e re g ula te d b y c o nte nt
Ma ke a pa rt o f ma ximum a llo wa nc e fo r sig na g e b y sig n a re a a nd/ o r # o f sig ns
Mo st do no t re q uire pe rmits fo r sma lle r sig ns b ut ma y re q uire fo r la rg e r sig ns
Ne e d to b e stro ng o n e nfo rc e me nt a s the y a re mo st like ly to pro life ra te
Pe ople / Huma n Sig ns
Is it a sig n or not?
Mo st like ly the type to b e re g ula te d b y c o nte nt
Ma ke a pa rt o f ma ximum a llo wa nc e fo r sig na g e b y sig n a re a a nd/ o r # o f sig ns
Mo st do no t re q uire pe rmits fo r sma lle r sig ns b ut ma y re q uire fo r la rg e r sig ns
Ne e d to b e stro ng o n e nfo rc e me nt a s the y a re mo st like ly to pro life ra te
Side wa lk Sig ns
Ofte n the one e xc e ption to the “no sig ns in the rig ht-
Allo w fo r A-fra me o r T
Allo w o n a ny side wa lk pro vide d it is wide e no ug h to a c c o mmo da te pe de stria ns (4-5 fe e t c le a ra nc e )
Allo w during b usine ss ho urs
Ve hic le Sig ns
Growing issue due to lowe r c ost a nd the ma ny le g itima te re a sons to ha ve sig na g e on ve hic le s
HI NT
minimize s the a b ility to use ve hic le s fo r a dditio na l sig na g e
T ric kie st pa rt is de fining wha t is a nd wha t is no t a ve hic le sig n
I f ve hic le is pa rke d o r sto re d ille g a lly, fo c us o n tha t vio la tio n o ve r a sig n vio la tio n
Othe r T e mpor ar y Sign T ype s
T e mpor ar y Window Signs Por table Me ssage Ce nte r s Adve r tising Mur als