UPDATED PRINT version for 03-16-11 — Roadside “mascots” and other sign-holders, drumming up business for local companies, may soon face heavy restrictions in a new city ordinance.
The planning commission voted 3-1 Monday night to recommend an ordinance that would allow such handheld or “walking” signs to be used only four times a year and for up to 5 days at a time.
The regulations will be considered by the City Council at a future meeting, as the commission’s vote is one of recommendation only.
The vote against the restrictions was from Commissioner David Conner, who said the walking and handheld signs should not be allowed at all.
With the golden-suited, clock-necklace-wearing “Cash 4 Gold” mascot in the audience displaying his sign, Conner said the signs are “tacky” and not in keeping with the city’s aesthetic values.
Also in the audience was a non-costumed sign holder for the Picnic Basket restaurant, also displaying his sign.
“This just falls back to the core values and virtues of Peachtree City, and I think this is doing a disservice to the 50 years that Peachtree City has been here,” Conner said.
Picnic Basket owner Debbie Sanders said her business will suffer significantly with the new restrictions because she is located in a retail center that is not visible from Ga. Highway 74. Her walking sign has been stationed at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Hwy. 74 on property owned by another business.
Sanders pointed out that her sign-holder doesn’t dance or cause a stir, nor does he spin the sign or throw it in the air. The technique is effective in driving customers to her restaurant and also her ladies’ fitness facility at the same center, Sanders said.
Under the proposed ordinance, Sanders will be unable to deploy her handheld sign along Hwy. 74, because it requires the handheld sign to be used on the same property where the business is located. Also, each company wishing to deploy a handheld sign would have to get the permission of the property owner to do so, in addition to paying a fee for a permit.
Sanders and a representative of the Cash 4 Gold store claimed that if the ordinance was approved, they would have to fire their employees who hold signs for them.
It was noted that the ordinance was a compromise from a complete ban, which was initially favored by the commission last year.
After the 3-1 vote to recommend approval of the ordinance, a despondent Sanders handed out coupons to members of the audience before leaving the room. Voting in favor of the ordinance were commissioners Horace Batiste, Lynda Wojcik and Patrick Staples.
===================================
EARLIER ONLINE VERSION — Final say on ordinance up to City Council
Peachtree City businesses which depend on handheld roadside signs to drive customers into their stores may soon be heavily restricted. The planning commission voted 3-1 Monday night to recommend an ordinance that would allow such handheld or “walking” signs to be used only four times a year and for up to 5 days at a time.
The regulations will be considered by the City Council at a future meeting, as the commission’s vote is one of recommendation only.
The vote against the restrictions was from Commissioner David Conner, who said the walking and handheld signs should not be allowed at all.
With the golden-suited, clock-necklace wearing “Cash 4 Gold” mascot in the audience displaying his sign, Conner said the signs are “tacky” and not in keeping with the city’s aesthetic values.
Also in the audience was a non-costumed sign holder for the Picnic Basket restaurant, also displaying his sign.
“This just falls back to the core values and virtues of Peachtree City, and I think this is doing a disservice to the 50 years that Peachtree City has been here,” Conner said.
Picnic Basket owner Debbie Sanders said her business will suffer significantly with the new restrictions because she is located in a retail center that is not visible from Ga. Highway 74. Her walking sign has been stationed at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Hwy. 74 on property owned by another business.
A handheld sign drives people to come to her restaurant and also her ladies’ fitness facility at the same center, Sanders said.
Under the proposed ordinance, Sanders will be unable to deploy her handheld sign along Hwy. 74, because it requires the handheld sign to be used on the same property where the business is located.
Sanders and a representative of the Cash 4 Gold store claimed they would have to “fire” their employees who hold signs for them.
It was noted that the ordinance was a compromise from a complete ban, which was initially favored by the commission last year.
Over the past several years, handheld or “walking” signs have been deployed by local businesses with few restrictions. That has made them a rarity in Peachtree City, where sign restrictions are notorious for being stringent in the name of aesthetics.
