TOPSHAM

After hearing comments from the public at its Tuesday meeting, the Planning Board plans to hold another workshop regarding the issue of prohibiting banners and temporary signs as part of a new sign ordinance adopted by voters at the May town meeting, according to Town Planner Rich Roedner.

Town planners said before the May town meeting there was little public participation in the more than 20 meetings at which Planning Board members worked on the rewrite of the town’s outdated sign ordinance — including from businesses.

The codes enforcement officer sent out more than 50 letters to businesses and entities informing them their temporary, portable or movable signs were to come down no later than July 15 to comply with the new ordinance.

Bob Lemont, post commander for Topsham’s American Legion Post 202, said the legion was one such organization that received a letter and removed its sign out front of the legion used to post event information regarding legion activities.

Many businesses or organizations depend on these signs, he said. Lemont reached out to these businesses and groups and started circulating a petition to have the Board of Selectmen reconsider this portion of the ordinance, which he said prior to Tuesday’s meeting he hoped could be addressed Tuesday without the need for the petition.

In an email, Roedner wrote that about 15 people attended the workshop on signs the Planning Board held after its regular meeting Tuesday, and that most comments indeed focused on the temporary signs and banners. The board indicated it will workshop the issue of banners and temporary signs at a future meeting, though a date wasn’t determined, “but it won’t be a long delay.”

Roedner said the board conducted a site walk at the proposed location of a disc golf course at 357 Middlesex Road prior to its meeting Tuesday. The site walk went well, he wrote, and resulted in the applicant moving one of the holds down a slope a short distance to reduce the visibility for a neighbor. As amended, the board approved the site plan and condition use permit at the meeting.

The board also approved an amended site plan submitted by Priority Group LLC which proposed to change the configuration of the fuel pumps under the canopy of the new Rusty’s Middlesex Market project already underway at 38 Middlesex Road, to ensure access for customers.