CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City Council has approved the first reading of an update to regulations that allow electronic message centers in the Madison Street Urban Design Overlay District.

In addition, the council approved the second half of an ordinance to make changes to citywide lighting regulations.

What is an electronic message center?

Last week, Regional Planning Director Jeffrey Tyndall clarified what electronic message centers are: “It’s an LED sign that provides words, text, pictures, and they do have opportunities to move and have motion, and they can change frequently,” he said.

When the city first allowed electronic message centers back in the 1990s and early 2000s, no rules were put into place.

However, Madison Street’s overlay district doesn’t allow any LED signage that isn’t government-owned, outside of those grandfathered into the district. The first part of the ordinance would change that.

The second part of the ordinance proposed updates to lighting regulations. This deals with site lighting on properties that have parking lighting, security lighting or advertising lighting, according to previous reports.

Split the question, ordinance approved

The City Council decided to break the ordinance into two parts.

For the proposed lighting regulations, the City Council approved the ordinance 9-3 with Councilpersons Brian Zacharias, Deanna McLaughlin, Ambar Marquis, Wanda Smith, Jimmy Brown, Streetman, Joe Shakeenab, Keri Lovato and Mayor Joe Pitts voting in favor. Voting against were Tim Chandler, Travis Holleman and Jerry Haywood. Carlos Peters was absent.

For the proposed regulations on electronic message centers on Madison Street, the ordinance was approved 11-1 with Chandler voting against.

Concerns over citywide LED signage

Councilperson Tim Chandler said he had concerns with rolling out LED signage regulations across the entire city. “We have enough stuff on the books that we’re not enforcing, and we’re sitting here fixing to go on a citywide enforcement of signs,” Chandler said.

He asked when the city will find the time to enforce such regulations.

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