During Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting, the subject of mobile advertising signs and commercial vehicles “wrapped” with banner ads – which came up for discussion at their Sept. 13 session – was addressed by Jimmy Jordan, director of the city’s Planning Department.

According to Jordan’s report, under Land Development Code Section 106-112, signs that are located adjacent to public areas are prohibited to the extent that they or any portion of them are visible or detectable from a publicly owned or public access area or adjacent property.

With respect to vehicular signs, LDC Section 106-112 (13) prohibits “Any vehicle sign exceeding one square foot in area per side and two square feet per vehicle, where a purpose or effect is to advertise, and where either of the following are present:

The vehicle is not in use for normal deliveries or normal service purposes.

The vehicle is parked at a time other than during the regular hours of operation of the business.

“The intent (of the code) is to treat all of the businesses the same,” added Jordan, who also noted that members of the city’s Code Enforcement Department have addressed the matter with several businesses that are parking their non-delivery or service vehicles in locations visible from the street.

“Code Enforcement, so far, has informed the business owners about the city’s sign regulations and advised them that they are in violation and need to comply by a date certain,” Jordan’s report stated, in part. “Once this time period has lapsed and the violation continues, the business owner will then receive a Notice of Violation to appear before the city’s Hearing Examiner.”

To date, Jordan told the commission that they have received “100 percent compliance.”

Paul Reynolds, who initiated discussions on the subject, was pleased with the actions taken by Jordan and his staff.

“Thank you for getting the point,” he added.

In other business, the commission voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit for the Sanibel Olive Oil Company, a formula retail store which opened last November. The owner of the store, Arnish Patel, was unaware that his business qualified as a formula retailer after Planning Department staff members discovered that he operated two other stores (in Sarasota and Naples) which offer similar products for sale.

Patel explained in a letter that he considered his business unique from his other stores, noting that the variety of products offered were independent from one another as was the name and appearance of each outlet.

Also, Jordan notified the commission that a public hearing will be held at their next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 9:15 a.m. At the hearing, they will consider amendments to Ordinance 86-42 Special Use District approval for the Sanibel Marina, who are seeking to add outdoor bonus seating in an area located less than the required setback from an open body of water.

Sanibel Marina would also like to extend their restaurant’s hours of operation and allow associated advertisement and dining to non-marina customers.