After a wide-ranging discussion in October on whether to allow all non-casino businesses in the downtown entertainment district to have almost unlimited signs, Reno Planning Commissioners asked staff to seek feedback from the downtown business owners.

Thanks to all our members and supporters who emailed the city last month. The commission received more than 85 letters and we think it had an impact. The proposed staff changes would allow any business in the downtown district in addition to casinos to have 100-foot-tall signs with no limit on number, size or types of lighting.  While some commissioners seemed to go along with the almost unlimited signage proposed by city staff, others said they could not support staff’s proposal yet, asking for feedback from the business community. View the video tape at agenda item 5.1.

Assistant Director of Planning Services Angela Fuss set three virtual stakeholder meetings to take place next week.

• Downtown Business Sign Ordinance Stakeholder Meeting  #1 11/18/2024 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
• Downtown Business Sign Ordinance Stakeholder Meeting  #2 11/19/2024 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• Downtown Business Sign Ordinance Stakeholder Meeting #3 11/20/2024 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

To attend one of the virtual community meetings register here.

Scenic Nevada’s Position

Scenic Nevada opposed staff’s changes presented at the Planning Commission meeting on October 16 by Ms. Fuss during the lengthy discussion to get commissioners’ feedback.  We said unlimited signage reserved for casinos should not be extended to non-casino businesses in the targeted area called the Mixed-Use Downtown Entertainment District (MD-ED).

We said the proposed draft could mean more digital displays as big as those erected by casinos. Or it could mean many smaller signs cluttering the downtown streets, degrading further the aesthetics there and possibly lowering property values. And with the prospect of more and bigger signs allowed, it could lead to zone change requests in the future to extend the boundaries of the downtown district so that others can have unlimited signs.

The letters from residents opposing the draft were included in commissioners‘ packets  and generally agreed with us that the staff changes would be detrimental to downtown and further degrade the tired-looking out-of-date district even further.

Staff and Scenic’s Disagreement

The downtown district is one of the many mixed-use districts in the city – and spans about 136 acres. Ms. Fuss told commissioners that the downtown businesses have been allowed unlimited signage for the past 20 years and the City staff can’t take that right away without council permission. Therefore, she’s including it in her current proposal of updates to the sign code chart.

But city code changed in 2021, and today the sign code chart says signs in the mixed-use districts like the MD-ED are limited to eight feet tall on parcels under an acre and up to 35 feet tall on over an acre. The sign size is set at 125 to 250 square feet and digitals are allowed under limited circumstances. Only casinos get the largest signs in the mixed-use districts and in “Gaming Overlays,” areas of the city that include gaming establishments in and outside of downtown. See the current sign code chart.

In Ms. Fuss’ proposed draft, the district would be excluded from the other Mixed-Use Districts on the chart and placed in a separate category that allows almost unlimited signage. See the proposed draft.

Ms. Fuss’ proposed code changes will ensure the district has unlimited signage in the future by right without public hearings or public input.

After the stakeholder meetings next week, the city council will review the draft, possibly in early December, according to Ms. Fuss. Then the draft will be presented to the planning commission and city council after the new year for final adoption.

If you haven’t already, use the button below to send a letter to the Reno Planning Commission, City Council, city staff and city manager. Or attend one of the virtual sessions next week to give your feedback.