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Hearing to consider Planning and Building Department, Long Range Planning Unit, proposed amendments to Chapter 130.36 of the Zoning Ordinance (Signs) to allow limited digital signs in the El Dorado Hills Community Region; and staff recommending the Planning Commission forward a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to take the following actions:
1) Adopt the Addendum to the County’s 2015 Sign Ordinance Update Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), certified in July 2015 (State Clearinghouse No. 2014102011) (Legistar Attachment B); and
2) Approve the amendments to Chapter 130.36 (Signs) as presented, based on the Findings (Legistar Attachment B).
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DISCUSSION/BACKGROUND
On September 16, 2025 (Legistar File 25-1480), the Board of Supervisors (Board) directed Long Range Planning (LRP) staff to adopt amendments to Chapter 130.36 of the Zoning Ordinance (Signs). These amendments included language banning digital signs with limited exceptions after the Signage Ad Hoc Committee, formed in March 2025, recommended the ban on digital signs to the Planning Commission and Board.
Based on feedback received, staff discovered the digital sign ban was too narrowly written and inadvertently banned digital signs that were desired in certain portions of the County. On January 6, 2026 (Legistar File 25-2066), LRP staff brought a Resolution of Intention (ROI) to the Board to initiate the process of amending Chapter 130.36 (Signs). Staff requested feedback and direction from the Board regarding the following specific digital sign-related items: 1) sign technology; 2) restrictions on message changes; 3) sign size, placement, type, height, and number allowed; 4) appropriate permitting process; and 5) appropriate location(s). The Board provided recommendations and authorized staff to initiate appropriate amendments to Chapter 130.36 regarding digital signs, with a focus on limiting use of digital signs to communities with major shopping destinations on the County’s West Slope, such as the El Dorado Hills Community Region. Following staff’s presentation of the ROI to the Board, staff worked with the Signage Ad Hoc Committee on recommended amendments and the Signage Ad Hoc Committee reviewed and approved those amendments, as presented in this item.
The proposed amendments include changes to Sections 130.36.070.H (Development Standards for Specific Sign Types) and 130.36.090.B.2 (Prohibited Signs - Exemptions) to allow limited use of digital freestanding and directory signs within specified commercial zones in the El Dorado Hills Community Region. For details, please refer to the staff memo (Legistar Attachment E).
The current draft of the proposed amendments is included as Legistar Attachment C. The proposed Ordinance amendments would be effective 30 days after final adoption by the Board.
CONTACT
Thea Graybill, Planning Manager
Planning and Building Department, Long Range Planning Unit