Carefree Truth

Issue #212, January 4, 2013

 

 

 

An amendment to the zoning ordinance governing signs was presented that would make the option to place A Frame signs permanent. Due to a troubled economy, the ordinance was relaxed 3 years ago to allow this type of additional signage, and the exception was extended twice. The first reading of the proposed revision took place at the November Council meeting.

 

 

 

Gary Neiss explained that the success of the small businesses is critical to the success of the Town, and visible signage is a critical ingredient. He said that many neighboring towns which value esthetics as much as Carefree have made A Frames a permanent part of their ordinances.

 

 

 

The revised ordinance would only allow A Frames within 35' of a business's primary entrance, and would only allow the signs during the hours of operation. If banner signs are employed A Frames may not be, in order to prevent a proliferation of duplicate signs.

 

 

 

Vice Mayor Melissa Price asked if this would get the signs away from the entrance at the Carefree Marketplace, i.e. the Basha's Center. Councilman Marty Saltzman stated that his understanding of the revision was that A Frames would be allowed by the individual business entrances, not by the entrances to the center's parking lot. Mr. Niess confirmed that. Mayor David Schwan said that most of the complaints heard at Town Hall involved signs on the arterial streets, rather than the ones by the stores. Monument signs are now permitted at commercial center entrances to provide a presence on Tom Darlington Drive and Cave Creek Road.

 

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar felt that signage should be between the landlord and the tenants, and that the tenants should use that issue as leverage before signing a lease. He stated that the larger businesses listed on monument signs brought in customers who would then see what he described as "the fill-in" businesses.

 

 

 

Mr. Neiss said that in today's economy, businesses look at many variables before signing a lease. The perceived ability to draw in customers gives these businesses a sense of certainty. Dave Karsten, owner of Ace Hardware, reiterated the importance of signage to the success of businesses.

 

 

 

Mr. Neiss believes this ordinance provides a good way to manage A Frame signs, with reasonable standards in place. He said he hasn't seen a proliferation of A Frame signs during the years that the ordinance has been relaxed, but that the businesses which do use them view them as an effective tool for drawing customers into their stores. He stated that the Town has the ability to face and confront issues with the signs if they arise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riZ4LY4d49A

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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