Hearing set for March 4 for possible changes in Sylvania sign code

Dan Greenberg and his daughter Nina show the Obama/Biden yard sign posted last summer outside their home in Sylvania. The ordered him to take it down because it violated a city ordinance that prohibits yard signs from being erected more than 70 days before an event. THE BLADE Enlarge | Buy This Photo

Sylvania City Council members will have a public hearing March 4 to discuss revisions to the city's sign code, which have come up because of a court challenge last year.

The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m., in council chambers, 6635 Maplewood Ave.

Proposed changes to the code will be discussed. However, at a Jan. 21 council session, when it was decided to hold the hearing, council member Doug Haynam said that, just because there will be a hearing, “doesn't mean we will act on it.”

Amendments to the sign code were sent to the Sylvania Municipal Planning Commission for review this month. Last summer, an issue with the current code prompted council members to review it.

Resident Daniel Greenberg sued the city in U.S. District Court last year, contending that Sylvania's sign ordinance violates the First Amendment. As part of the city's sign ordinance, yard signs are not allowed to be posted more than 70 days before an event. Mr. Greenberg had a sign supporting President Barack Obama's re-election in his yard more than four months prior to the November general election.