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News
Businesses get a break on pole signs : News : Oswego Ledger-Sentinel : Hometown Newspaper for Oswego and Montgomery, IllinoisBusinesses get a break on pole signs
| Montgomery Board votes to strike take-down provision from sign law
| by John Etheredge
| 2/7/2013
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Economic times have changed and so has the Montgomery Village Board's position on pole signs in the village.
Board members voted 5-0 this past week to remove a provision in the village's sign ordinance that would have required businesses with non-conforming signs-including many vintage signs mounted on poles-to take them down this year.
A prior board had approved the provision when it amended the sign ordinance in 2006.
Since that time, however, few village businesses had replaced their non-conforming signs and the village's community development department staff was faced with the prospect of attempting to enforce the provision this year.
Jerad Chipman, a village planner, recently told the board that more than 90 village businesses still have non-conforming signs, with many of the signs mounted on poles.
Board members, however, agreed that to now enforce the provision would great a financial burden on local businesses.
Referring to the businesses and the possibility of the village forcing them to replace their non-conforming signs, board member Stan Bond said, "I think this is an expense they don't need."
Board member Matt Brolley said he has opposed the provision since he studied it several years ago as a member of the village's plan commission.
"It's a different world we're living in now and I would like to see it stricken completely from our ordinance," Brolley said.
Board member Bill Keck said he believes the village needs to drop the provision as part of a continuing effort to be "business friendly."
Board member Denny Lee questioned how the village could now have its community development staff enforce the requirement.
"Which one of you guys is going to go over to Coffman (Trucks) and tell them, 'Guess what? We want your sign down tomorrow?' It's not going to work," Lee said.
Steve Andersson, an attorney for the village, told board members that removing the provision means that all businesses with non-conforming signs will be able to keep their signs up until they require replacement due to wear and age.
Andersson, however, said the ordinance will continue to prohibit the installation of new pole-mounted signs. Instead, the ordinance calls for new businesses to install ground-level monument-style signs.
"These signs at existing businesses can stay until they want to make a change. When they do want to make a change, they'll have to comply with our ordinance," Andersson said, adding," It's very much within the realm of reasonable to approach this in the manner in which you are."
Andersson recalled that the board voted to approve the provision requiring the removal of non-conforming signs seven years ago upon the recommendation of the village's then community development department director, Amy Furfori.
Andersson said in making her recommendation Furfori was trying to improve the appearance of commercial corridors in the village.
He said he believes it's "still a good concept," but now difficult for the village to enforce due to the 2008 recession which he described as the "worst economic collapse in the most people's memories."
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