Hilliard won?’t go after existing signs
Decision eliminates key area of dispute; council plans to vote on rules March 13
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Dean Narciso
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The sign for her business is ''too high, too large and improperly illuminated,'' co-owner Ruth Baumgardner concedes.
But since she?’s operated Woodcraft, a Hilliard woodworking supply business, for eight years, she won?’t have to change it to comply with Hilliard?’s proposed changes to its graphics and sign code.
City officials have created a grandfather clause that would exempt existing businesses from the most onerous rules.
''The tension has eased, and the dialogue has improved, but it hasn?’t come easily,'' Baumgardner said of months of wrangling over the changes.
Last night, Hilliard City Council agreed to vote on the proposed changes March 13, but not before hearing from several residents who want more time to discuss the matter.
''I see so many areas of confusion . . . that need to be clarified before it passes,'' said Steve Moore, a Delaware County resident who makes retail signs.
Visual clutter is a nuisance, said Hilliard Mayor Don Schonhardt, who has tried to improve Hilliard?’s ''gateway'' along Cemetery Road from I-270.
Changes in Hilliard?’s graphics and sign code were proposed early last year. They have undergone several transformations and faced numerous detractors.
Along with internally illuminated signs, the city wants to prohibit hand-lettered signs and reduce window signs from 25 percent to 10 percent of a window.
''If the businesses could plaster their windows with signs, I think they would do that,'' Schonhardt said. ''We wanted to make sure our graphics code helped us to maintain the aesthetics of the community.''
Hilliard?’s sign ordinance was tabled last year, after objections from business owners.
''I just don?’t want to see it dragged on forever and ever,'' Councilman Tim Roberts said last night.
Schonhardt said the grandfather clause has removed 90 percent of objections. He said ''marketplace pressure'' will force older businesses to modify their signs.
Schonhardt said he?’s heard no complaints from any of about 20 new businesses that have moved into the city since the sign laws were introduced.
Others cities also are grappling with sign issues.
On Feb. 13, some Upper Arlington City Council candidates questioned a proposed law to prohibit businesses from using sandwich boards to advertise.
That proposal will be stricken from the agenda so the council can analyze its impact and review other sign legislation, Planning Officer Matt Davis said.
Cities learn of problem signs when residents complain.
''If enough complain about it, then the community?’s trying to tell you something,'' he said.
Worthington, in contrast, recently passed an ordinance that allows businesses along an industrial strip to erect larger, more intrusive real-estate signs as a way to spur commerce.
Pickerington is pleased overall with its commercial sign guidelines adopted by city council in July.
''We have to look at encouraging commercial growth. We want those dollars,'' said Tory Kramer, vice-chairman of the planning and zoning commission.
''But we want to make sure the residents are happy with what they see when they drive down the road. We want to avoid a kaleidoscope of all different colors, an eyesore.''
dnarciso@dispatch.com
Decision eliminates key area of dispute; council plans to vote on rules March 13
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Dean Narciso
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The sign for her business is ''too high, too large and improperly illuminated,'' co-owner Ruth Baumgardner concedes.
But since she?’s operated Woodcraft, a Hilliard woodworking supply business, for eight years, she won?’t have to change it to comply with Hilliard?’s proposed changes to its graphics and sign code.
City officials have created a grandfather clause that would exempt existing businesses from the most onerous rules.
''The tension has eased, and the dialogue has improved, but it hasn?’t come easily,'' Baumgardner said of months of wrangling over the changes.
Last night, Hilliard City Council agreed to vote on the proposed changes March 13, but not before hearing from several residents who want more time to discuss the matter.
''I see so many areas of confusion . . . that need to be clarified before it passes,'' said Steve Moore, a Delaware County resident who makes retail signs.
Visual clutter is a nuisance, said Hilliard Mayor Don Schonhardt, who has tried to improve Hilliard?’s ''gateway'' along Cemetery Road from I-270.
Changes in Hilliard?’s graphics and sign code were proposed early last year. They have undergone several transformations and faced numerous detractors.
Along with internally illuminated signs, the city wants to prohibit hand-lettered signs and reduce window signs from 25 percent to 10 percent of a window.
''If the businesses could plaster their windows with signs, I think they would do that,'' Schonhardt said. ''We wanted to make sure our graphics code helped us to maintain the aesthetics of the community.''
Hilliard?’s sign ordinance was tabled last year, after objections from business owners.
''I just don?’t want to see it dragged on forever and ever,'' Councilman Tim Roberts said last night.
Schonhardt said the grandfather clause has removed 90 percent of objections. He said ''marketplace pressure'' will force older businesses to modify their signs.
Schonhardt said he?’s heard no complaints from any of about 20 new businesses that have moved into the city since the sign laws were introduced.
Others cities also are grappling with sign issues.
On Feb. 13, some Upper Arlington City Council candidates questioned a proposed law to prohibit businesses from using sandwich boards to advertise.
That proposal will be stricken from the agenda so the council can analyze its impact and review other sign legislation, Planning Officer Matt Davis said.
Cities learn of problem signs when residents complain.
''If enough complain about it, then the community?’s trying to tell you something,'' he said.
Worthington, in contrast, recently passed an ordinance that allows businesses along an industrial strip to erect larger, more intrusive real-estate signs as a way to spur commerce.
Pickerington is pleased overall with its commercial sign guidelines adopted by city council in July.
''We have to look at encouraging commercial growth. We want those dollars,'' said Tory Kramer, vice-chairman of the planning and zoning commission.
''But we want to make sure the residents are happy with what they see when they drive down the road. We want to avoid a kaleidoscope of all different colors, an eyesore.''
dnarciso@dispatch.com
