At its June 12 workshop session, the Largo City Commission discussed incentives to encourage businesses to replace signs.

The commission favored a tiered-incentive program, which would slightly reduce city fees and allow businesses to install slightly larger new signs.

Non-conforming pole signs need to be replaced with monument signs. The deadline for the sign changes is June 5, 2017.

When the city created its new sign ordinance in 2007, the city provided a ten-year timeframe for businesses to comply.

The city created the sign ordinance to improve appearances and "encourage the safe placement of signs for traffic and pedestrians."

The proposed incentive program would be for properties outside of the community redevelopment areas. The program would not start until Oct. 1.

The  city plans to create a separate program  for properties in the redevelopment areas along Clearwater-Largo Road and West Bay Drive.

The commission discussed the costs of the new signs and creating an inventory of signs, which need to be replaced.

"I dare say there are thousands of signs," said Commissioner Curtis Holmes. "These signs are expensive," he said.

The sooner a business replaces its signs, the better the proposed benefits: