Sign code decision could change our horizons

On Thursday night the City of Sammamish Planning Commission discussed changing the city’s sign code to allow for electronic reader board signs at schools.

The issue is a pressing one for the city — for the last few years teachers, students and parents from Eastlake High School have been lobbying the city with claims that their current manual lettering sign is a safety hazard, a drain on student’s valuable time in classrooms, and ineffective in communicating with the school community.

The high school requested that they be able to build an electronic reader board sign which could be programmed quickly and more regularly from inside the school.

The sticking point — the city’s code which prohibits digital reader signs in residential zones, a decision made by city planners in order to ensure commercial development didn’t unduly spoil the aesthetics of the area.

But it appears the reasonable request of Eastlake, and now Skyline High School, has resonated with the planning commission and the Sammamish City Council, which is close to adopting an amendment to allow electronic signs at schools.

On Thursday night, after The Reporter’s deadline, the planning commission was expected to select their preferred option of two draft amendments.

The two options are largely the same:

• a maximum of one freestanding sign at the school entrance and two wall signs attached to the school building

• no sign may exceed 32 sq ft

• freestanding sign limited to 6 ft

• must be shut off at 10 p.m. and automatically dim during hours of darkness.

The difference between the two options is that option 2 defines the policy basis as being that the signs are for the benefit of the school, whereas option 1 states that such signage is for the benefit of the school and the wider community.

As a result, option 2 requires that signs adhere to a 50-foot building set back, and not be visible to traffic, either on nearby main roads or in parking areas.

Option 1 allows the sign to be displayed to passing traffic, with the proviso that if it proves to be a traffic hazard further restrictions may be imposed.

Signs visible to passing traffic, however, would not be allowed to carry moving or scrolling text or graphics.

In all cases, signs would only be allowed to carry messages about the school’s activities or announcing or promoting non-profit school or community events.

Earlier this year City of Sammamish Director of Community Development Kamuron Gurol said that the sign issue had the potential to open up a can of worms.

“We have to be careful with our decision here, because the question then is where to stop,” he said. “If Eastlake gets a sign, then what about the YMCA, then what about the gym? It sets a precedent that would become increasingly difficult to manage.”

A third option, which is unlikely to be considered, is to leave the code as it is, prohibiting electronic signs in residential areas.

Council will hear the commission’s recommendation at their next scheduled meeting, July 7.