The town is tightening restrictions on what types of signs are allowed, voting in favor of a revised sign ordinance at the May 16 Munster Town Council meeting.
A variety of signs will become illegal when the council takes up the matter for final adoption at its next meeting on June 6. Prohibited signs include those affixed to poles, flat printed signs, any type of flashing sign, window promotional signs and electronic signs. In addition, rope LED lights around the exterior of a building or around windows, doors and other places will be prohibited.
The new sign ordinance is the product of collective discussions and review involving the Munster Town Council, Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals as well as the Munster Chamber of Commerce. Noting the opportunity for public feedback during the discussion period, Town Manager Dustin Anderson described the ordinance as a “fair and transparent” document. Ideas for the sign ordinance were pulled from other Indiana communities, including Carmel, Noblesville and Chesterton.
A section for temporary signs is one of the most notable changes to the existing sign ordinance, which was prompted by a June 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that successfully challenged the legality of a town making content-based distinctions favoring political or ideological signs relative to the treatment of non-commercial signs. As such, Munster revised its ordinance to reflect the high court’s ruling.
Town officials say its new sign ordinance will be more user-friendly and understandable for the average person, as it provided photographic examples of what signs are allowed and are not allowed.
In other business, the town will no longer provide trash pickup for local businesses. Letters will be sent to approximately 60 businesses informing them they must find a commercial hauler. Special events are exempted.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.