VIDALIA — The City of Vidalia adopted Tuesday new development codes that, over time, could change the face the city presents to the world.

The codes, which were developed over several months and first presented in March, are meant to be part of a comprehensive, long-range smart growth plan for the city.

The changes to the code were the first step in the city’s new master plan, which was adopted last month and represents the first significant overhaul of codes since the 1970s.

The new codes address things such as required green space and landscaping, signs, building development and redevelopment and community mobility — including future streets and bike lanes.

The mayor and board of aldermen adopted the changes after opening and closing a public hearing during which no public comment was made, and made little comment about the matter themselves.

Later in the meeting, Alderwoman Maureen “Mo” Saunders asked the board if the town could consider stopping people from putting up signs in the median at the foot of the Mississippi River bridge.

“The wind blows (the signs) down, it starts sagging and it looks terrible,” she said. “What is on the signs isn’t bad, it is just the way it is presented.”

Saunders said the city might consider putting up a digital sign, which she said is “prettier.” The alderwoman also suggested requiring only one sign be allowed to be posted at a time on a first come, first served basis, but Alderman Jon Betts said he’d rather disallow all signs than to operate that way.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said a company has offered to put up a digital billboard at the western end of town and would allow the city to advertise a certain number of minutes for free ach month, but City Accountant Ashley Anderson said the board should probably review the development codes they had just adopted before making any decisions.

In other news:

4The board voted to allow the Concordia Garden Club to establish a bird and butterfly sanctuary on the Vidalia riverfront.

4Street Director Lee Staggs said the city has had a problem with residents putting up lost dog and garage sale signs on stop signs.

“They put the sign up with duct tape, and it leaves that residue behind,” he said. “If an accident happens at that (stop) sign, the person who put up (paper) sign is liable.”