At the meeting of the Evansville Planning Commission on Monday, Aug 1, 2005, a new revison of the local sign ordinance was discussed to address electronic message centers. The Bank of Evansville, which had approval for a regular sign, now desires an electronic sign, 25 ft. tall. This does fall within the size limit of the current code, but it is just that the current ordinance did not envision the electronic signs.
The revision is in the discussion stage. The idea is to keep it in B3 zoned areas, namely the entrance on HWY 14, and come up with a way of writing the ordinance that would address the size of lettering and pace of the changes. The other issue is how to avoid the "Las Vegas effect" if all the business went to this type of sign.
The discussion of this topic did underline a key recurring theme--how to move quickly but at the same time create a consistet policy. The Bank is set to open in a month or so, and would like a sign, or banner to work with. At the same time, the city needs to consider the impact when other businesses seek to also go electronic.
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The sign the Bank of Evansville is proposing would be just over 14 feet tall, and its overall size would comply with the city's current sign regulations and approved site plan. The issue is whether the portion of the sign face devoted to an electronic message board should be larger than is allowed by the current sign regulations. The bank wants 25 square feet of the sign face to be devoted to the electonic message board.
ReplyDeleteTim Schwecke, the city planner, will draft an ordinance for consideration that would loosen up the restrictions on electronic message boards in the B-4 district (the only parcels currently zoned B-4 are located along the north side of USH 14 east of CTH M and the east side of CTH M north of USH 14, e.g., the Family Dollar, Piggly Wiggly, BP gas station/convenience store/ McDonalds, new Bank of Evanville, new Ace Hardware).
The current restrictions would make the electronic message board area so small that messages would need to scroll quickly, which would distract drivers and create a traffic hazard.
Bill Connors
Evansville City Administrator
I think the city should allow this sign. I think they need to change with times, and things are changing. I think they need to make SOME things easier for business's so we can get some more commercial growth in town, it would be to benefit of all taxpayers. It does not do anyone any good to make prospective business's jump through hoops. I think safety and location always need to be looked at very carefully, but as far as signs, I think there is room for change.
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