Orem says no to portable signs on State Street
OREM -- After more than a year of discussion on Orem city signage and the vision for the future of State Street, the Orem City Council voted 4-3 to allow a limited number of portable signs along University Parkway but none on State Street or other commercial or industrial zones in the city.
Councilwoman Karen McCandless pointed out that businesses are allowed plenty of signage. Businesses along State Street already can use one of each of the following at their business: a pole sign; a monument sign up to 6 feet by 6 feet; a wall sign; a canopy sign; window signs; and holiday signs. But she was concerned that city leaders working on the future vision of State Street should not be so quick to make decisions they cannot enforce or that would not enhance the vision.
"I am concerned about the order of things," McCandless said. "I am comfortable with the parkway signage. We have a liberal sign ordinance and I am concerned we're making it more liberal."
Councilwoman Mary Street agreed with McCandless.
"Taking a bigger look at the picture of State Street is important to the visioning process. I would like us to see am more persuaded to enforce the ordinance as it stands. We have plenty of signage.
Street added, "As we embark on visioning I want to encourage businesses and residents to become a part of the process."
Mayor Jim Evans, however, was in favor of allowing additional signage on State Street.
"I personally don't have a problem with signage. It doesn't bother me."
Councilman Hans Andersen, one of three who voted no, said, "Small business should have the right to advertise. I don't know how to tell someone sharing common walls they can't advertise. The owners have a better knowledge of how to bring business in."
Evans and Councilman Brent Sumner also voted no.
To demonstrate the size of portable signs, which include banners and A-frame signs, community services director Stanford Sainsbury placed banners and cutouts on the wall of the council chambers.
"After working on this for more than a year as staff we didn't feel we had a consensus on what you wanted to have happen," Sainsbury told the council.
Members of the beautification commission wrote letters to the council complaining that banners and other portable signs have been put in places that hide their beautification projects around the city as well.
The one thing the council could come to a consensus on was that individuals who use movable signs on the sides of vehicles or other objects and leave them in one location for advertising purposes are in violation of the ordinance.
According to city attorney Steve Earl, anyone caught in violation of the ordinance will be asked to remove the sign. If they don't they will be given a citation.
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