The Wright City Board of Aldermen considered changes to parking requirements and signage regulations at their Feb. 27 meeting, both of which could have ramifications for local businesses. 

The first ordinance covered changes to parking requirements for businesses in commercial and industrial zoning districts within the city. 

While the ordinance does cover requirements for lot construction, the most impactful change was in requirements for outdoor trash cans and grease traps. 

Per the ordinance, which was approved unanimously at the meeting, dumpsters or grease traps on the outside of buildings must be enclosed by a fence and hidden from view of the public. 

Dumpsters must be surrounded on all sides by an opaque fence with a minimum height of six feet. Grease traps must be obscured as well, but those fences need only be tall enough to hide the receptacles from view. 

Alderman Ramiz Hakim did note that, per the ordinance, existing businesses will not be required to make any changes. 

“This is a significant change to our code as it relates to dumpsters and grease containers, requiring them to be enclosed and have doors up front,” said Hakim. “Which could be cost prohibitive to current businesses, but those businesses will be grandfathered in, and this will only affect future businesses that decide to do commerce in our city.”

There are also requirements for the fence materials businesses can use, which Alderman Karey Owen said originally dissuaded her from supporting the ordinance. 

At first, fences had to be constructed from stone or concrete but changes were later added to include wood and simulated wood as acceptable materials. 

“I was originally opposed to this because of the cost prohibitiveness,” said Owens. “Adding in that it can be wood or some other material makes it a little more open.”

The requirements on dumpsters and grease traps also apply to nonprofits. 

The second ordinance, which did not pass, would have tightened regulation on signs in the city limits significantly, and drew much more discussion from the board before it was allowed to die without a vote. 

The ordinance included a setback of at least 15 feet from the back of the pavement which Owens felt would negatively impact local nonprofits. 

“One of my concerns about that is we have so many nonprofits that use temporary signs to promote, that 15 feet back is gonna, in some yards, put them in somebody’s living room,” said Owens. 

City Attorney Paul Rost understood the concern and clarified the setback requirement was intended to keep signs out of the city’s right-of-way. 

The ordinance also included  requirements for signs on highway frontage designed to keep the area appealing, which drew concern from the board. 

Hakim agreed they did not want any parts of the city appearing “dilapidated” but questioned how the ordinance would be enforced. 

Rost clarified it would fall on the building department to enforce the ordinance, but until a sign was declared out of compliance, businesses or nonprofits would be grandfathered. 

“This would affect several nonprofits in town, some nonprofits have vinyl signs currently,” said Hakim. 

The board was uncertain about the ordinance and when the time came for final passage, the room fell silent. Hakim spoke up and asked if it was worth bringing the ordinance back to workshop so it did not place an undue burden on citizens or businesses. 

No vote was cast on the ordinance and the board will consider it at a future meeting.