The Blanco Planning and Zoning Commission approved a variance for signage for the city’s historic preservation committee at Monday’s meeting.

Rudy Nino, historic preservation officer for the City of Blanco, told commissioners the Blanco Historic Preservation Commission would like to hang four banners near the edges of the courthouse square to invite tourists and passers-by to visit the square. The banners are 30 inches wide and 70 inches high. The Pedernales Electric Cooperative would hang and take down the banners.

The BHPC sought a variance for the time banners are allowed to be put up. The normal time allowed is for 30 days, four times per year, according to city ordinance. Normally, only one banner is allowed to be put up by a business.

Nino said BHPC would like the banners put up each year from May to late August or early September. He added that they were unable to make the request earlier this year, since they were not able to meet in March and April due to COVID-19 concerns. The BHPC approved its own request in May.

Susan Moore, P&Z chair, asked if the BHPC would give other city or non-profit groups the same latitude to allow signage in the historic downtown area. Nino said they would. A calendar would have to be made, he said, to accommodate requests.

The commission unanimously approved the BHPC request. The banners will be allowed to be put up for three months from the date of installation.

The commission discussed changes made to the planned development district for the Los Altos project, which was recently approved by the city council. They also discussed a preliminary concept for the Sta-Built property and discussed updating the city’s zoning map. No action was taken on any of those items.

The commission also welcomed Rachel Lumpee as its newest member. She was appointed by the city council last month. Lumpee replaces David Smith, previous P&Z chair, who left the area to attend graduate school. Susan Moore replaced Smith as P&Z chair.