The Natchez Planning Commission on Thursday voted to recommend changes to the city’s sign ordinance. Gretchen Kuechler, assistant city planner, said the changes help to fine tune the ordinance and provide clarity and flexibility for businesses and others seeking sign permits.

The recommendations go to the Board of Aldermen for final approval.

Two major areas of change are in temporary signs and in business districts.

Recommended changes in temporary signs include new regulations for commercial banners, which will be permitted for sales and special events on a temporary basis with the following stipulations:

— Only one commercial banner may be displayed per business in a given permitting period.

— Commercial banners will be permitted only in commercial and industrial zoning districts (B-1, B-2, B-3 and I-1).

— Permits may be granted for a period not to exceed 30 days.

— No more than five permits may be issued per calendar year.

— Commercial banners may not exceed 30 square feet in area.

— Commercial banners may be attached only to buildings and not located within the public right-of-way, attached to utility poles, light poles, landscaping features, fences, screening walls or trees.

Other recommended changes are in the area of business district regulations. They include the following:

— The maximum allowed width of the border or support structure of a freestanding identification sign will be one foot per side, subject to requirements of any signs taken on an individual basis, for which some leeway may be granted administratively.

— Some changes for freestanding identification signs for multi-tenant properties will include certain restrictions, such as having a design that is one, cohesive monument with changeable signs for the individual businesses.

— Some size restrictions include eight feet for the height and 18.75 feet for the length of these multi-tenant signs. They must be no closer than 10 feet to any public right-of-way and not closer than 30 feet to the intersection of public streets.

— In addition, these multi-tenant signs must include a planting area equal to 30 percent of the sign area.

Multi-tenant signs for complexes where five or more businesses are located will undergo some new regulations, according to recommended changes.

Overall, the new suggestions will allow larger complexes to increase the sign size if all businesses are granted equal advertising space.

Changes recommended for wall signs will allow variations in the number and placement of signs and will increase the allowable sign area.

Another proposed amendment will allow more flexibility to place wall signs on secondary facades.