Does

flying American flags over a business constitute

patriotism or advertising?

That's

one point the Fayetteville Planning Commission is

pondering as it considers a new, more restrictive

sign ordinance.

The

group will discuss the changes Tuesday during its

regular monthly business meeting, 7 p.m. at City

Hall.

City

planner Todd Miller has been rewriting the city's

law governing signs after conducting a

drive-around inspection that revealed 70 business

violating current ordinances.

He

presented the changes to the commission last week

during its work session, including a slide show

of many of the offending businesses, as well as

some not violating current laws that would be in

violation of the proposed changes.

The

revised ordinance doesn't address use of the

American flag, but Planning Commission members

noticed one business with four flags flying atop

its building, prompting a discussion on the

subject.

Use

of the Stars and Stripes in advertising is

prohibited by federal law, said commission member

Segis "Al" Lipscomb.

But

defining the difference between advertising and

patriotism in a city sign ordinance may be the

hard part of writing such a provision, commission

member Kevin Bittinger suggested.

"I

don't care how we do it as long as we put a stop

to it," Lipscomb said.

The

commission may vote on the new ordinance in its

meeting Tuesday, or it may delay action until

next month to add provisions concerning the flag.

The group's recommendation will go to City

Council for final action.

Among

other changes being recommended:

� Sticker type window signs

would be limited to 25 percent of the total

window area.

� Businesses with double

frontage would be allowed an additional sign.

� Temporary signs for special

events would be limited to 50 square feet and

restricted to 30 days a year for each business.

� A new typeset and color

guide is included for the Main Street District.

� Any lettering on a wall

would be included in the calculation of maximum

sign size.

� A 36-inch separation would

define two separate signs, as opposed to one sign

in two parts.

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