Smithfield's
electronic sign law will have public hearing
By Blaze
Bullock
March 27, 2009 | SMITHFIELD -- A public hearing to
amend the city's electronic sign law has been set for
April 15.
Under current law, businesses are not allowed to have
flashing signs or anything close to it. Planning and
Zoning Commissioner Richard Jewkes and Deputy City Recorder
Charlene Izatt recently debated what exactly the definition
of a "flashing" sign was, but came to no specific conclusion.
Commissioner David Price joked about how small of
a detail Jewkes and Izatt were discussing and claimed
it didn't really matter. "We're getting Clinton-esque
with what the definition of 'is' is," he said.
The planning commission eventually decided that any
electronic scrolling sign that only showed a message
for less than three seconds was considered to be flashing.
They also decided that no electronic sign may be put
up next to another within 100 feet (50 feet on both
sides) of it. If a person wishes to have a scrolling
message on an electronic sign but can't because of the
100 foot restriction, the individual may put a message
on the other business owner's electronic sign with the
owner's permission.
Price and Commissioner Barbara Kent were both undecided
about the matter and started on opposite sides of what
to do concerning the putting another sign within a certain
distance of another. After everything was discussed,
the entire PC was in favor of the limit.
Commissioners emphasized that they don't want a "Vegas
style" Main Street.
"It's always been that we don't want sign pollution
in Smithfield," Izatt said. All were in agreement that
these things should help avoid that.
Signs without scrolling messages however have no restrictions
as to how close or far apart they must be from other
businesses, said Kent. She also said that she thinks
this is all fair because of the lack of restriction
on non-electronic signs.
NW
MS |
