The township has set up a committee to review its sign ordinance.
The committee is comprised of Township Supervisor Matt Gibb and Trustees Neal Porter and JoAnn VanTassel.
The current ordinance was passed in February of 2006.
But according to Gibb, who was a township trustee and a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) before starting his term as supervisor this year, there was a provision that the ordinance would be looked at again in six months after passing.
It never was. Now, Gibb says the ordinance is large and vague. Changes to the sign ordinance are just one more way Gibb is trying to make it easier on businesses in a tough economic climate.
‘The ordinance is too big, too cumbersome and too generic all at once,? Gibb said.
Local business owners and residents are encouraged to offer input, Gibb added.
One of the flashier topics of the debate will include electronic signs.
The current ordinance prohibits them unless under certain circumstances. The ordinance reads: ‘Flashing, animated or moving signs shall be permitted only in district zoned Special Purpose 1, and only if the flashing, animated portion of the sign moves at intervals of ten seconds or greater.?
Making the ordinance more clear on electronic signs, or LED signs, will allow for more of them, which makes it easier to identify businesses, Gibb said.
‘We need to get down to the brass tacks of how can we accomadate what the reasonable business need, which is promotion and location of the business, against the proliferation of signs,? he said.
Electronic signs could potentially help better identify plazas and large places like Culver’s, which has an LED sign.
Casey’s Chicken just put up a similar sign, and the ZBA just approved one for Kruse and Muer’s.
Not everyone is a fan of the electronic signs, though.
‘People say if we do it this way, we’ll look like Sterling Heights or Waterford. If we do it right, we won’t,? Gibb said.