DERRY — As development increases, Town Administrator John Anderson is looking toward a streamlined process regulating signs in town.

Anderson is looking to have staff from the town’s code enforcement and planning departments finish the work of a committee that had been working on sign regulations.

“The current sign regulations are a very convoluted process at this point,” said Anderson. “The committee had a great start but then hit some bumps in the road. I’m asking the Town Council to take the work the committee has started and to give it to the staff to come up with a final recommendation they will bring back.”

Anderson said the current regulations governing sign placement and regulation are cumbersome and vary depending upon zoning district and whether they are regulated by state or local ordinances, among other factors.

The committee that was looking to revamp the sign ordinances included Planning Board, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Town Council members.

“We’re seeing a lot more development in town, and with these regulations, we really can’t do much,” Anderson said.

Councilor Michael Fairbanks noted that there are many inconsistencies in the current sign regulations that make enforcement difficult.

“It’s been this way for awhile,” said council Chairman Brad Benson. “I think we can rework them and make them more consistent.”

Anderson said the staff will work on the new regulations and provide a draft to the Planning and Zoning boards for their input.

After the Planning Board holds a public hearing on the regulations, they will come before the Town Council for its approval.

A draft should be completed by October with final approval by the end of the year, according to Anderson.

Councilor Neil Wetherbee said he believes it is important that the Zoning and Planning boards get to review the regulations before approval.

“They are the ones who are going to be dealing with this on a regular basis,” he said.

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Adam Swift may be reached at aswift@newstote.com.