During its meeting Thursday evening, the Centralia Plan and Zoning Commission discussed possible alterations to the city’s sign ordinance.
The discussion followed a request made in May by Howard Jones from SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, who asked that the city consider allowing the placement of a sign advertising for the hospital in front of One Hope United, on property which is owned by the Centralia Foundation. Centralia’s ordinance currently prohibits signs that advertise for a business other than the business where the sign is located.
Commission members expressed a willingness to amend the ordinance, but said they would want to change the verbiage carefully to avoid making the regulations too lax. The commission discussed the possibility of limiting so-called “off-premises” advertising to businesses that own or lease the property on which the sign would be placed.
Community Development and Planning and Zoning Director Gayla Harting says she will discuss possible changes to the sign ordinance with City Attorney Douglas Hoffman. The zone and planning commission will then consider approving those changes; if approved by the commission, the changes would then go before the Centralia City Council.
Also on Thursday, the commission approved the rezoning of property at 325 Walnut Hill Road from highway/arterial business district to industrial district. The change follows a request from Bolin Enterprises Inc. to operate a business at the site which would include propane service, an environmental office and a crude oil trucking service. The rezoning will be subject to final approval from the city council, which will meet on Monday.
Harting notes that Bolin officials will have to come back to the zoning commission for a special use permit to manufacture, sell or store flammable gases or liquids. The special use permit will also be contingent on the company receiving the proper permits from the state and putting up adequate fencing at the site.
