City advises local businesses regarding banner usage

Due to the recent increase of banners and temporary signage Scott Lehman from the City of Douglas Zoning Enforcement/Planning sent out a letter to all business owners and managers stating the City’s zoning regulations.

Banners and temporary signs are only allowed for the usage in case of “Grand Openings” and “Going out of business” events, the letter states. In regards to Grand Openings, the use of a banner is permitted for a fourteen day period, beginning at the time of the start of the business opening and ending at the end of the fourteen day period. Temporary signage pertaining to a Going out of Business event it is only permitted for duration of thirty days prior to the actual closing of the business.

The use of these types of signs is becoming more and more of a common way to advertise products and pricing. The rising number of these banners is creating an environment that is negatively affected by an increasing visual overload. This condition is otherwise referred to as “visual clutter”, states the letter.

Lehman states that the inexpensive material used for such signage is far less durable the materials used for permanent signage. With time and weather conditions these signs become faded, torn, soiled and unsecured.

Lehman submitted a recommendation to the Mayor and Council to amend Article 7, Section 705, 706 and 707 of the Zoning Regulations by adopting a list of approved material for business signage and guide lines for permitted and prohibited sign usage.

There will be notices handed out to businesses that currently have these kinds of signs.

Lehman said in generally the only time someone or a business will be citied is if they sign is old, torn, create public nuisances or are an eyesore.

The intended result of the prohibition of these temporary signs is to protect the streetscapes and landscapes from “visual clutter” as well as eliminating eyesores, to ensure the safety of the public and to protect the architectural and aesthetic beauty of the structures in our town. This will also help make Douglas a more enjoyable and appealing lace to live and to provide an improved atmosphere to attract customers to your business, stated Lehman’s letter.

“Why would you let a sign stay up so it becomes unattractive you are trying to bring people in,” Lehman said.