Gone ’til November

The city’s first significant revision to its sign code since 2001 includes proposed regulations that would ban banners and A-frame, or sidewalk, signs except to promote a grand opening or store closing.

Linda Smith, president of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, outlined her concerns in a letter delivered before the council’s discussion of a recommendation from its advisory board last week. She asked that the proposed regulations be postponed for a year

While acknowledging the importance of cleaning up Lakewood’s image to prospective businesses, Smith said her members include small businesses that can’t afford mailers or advertisements in local publications and need as much visibility as possible in these tough times.

“Right now, with this economic downturn, I find this to be really bad timing,” she said Monday.

The sign code has been a source of contention in the past. Smith said there was an outcry among businesses after the city incorporated and officials began enforcing its new code. The county had a sign code, but it was rarely enforced, she said.

Newer cities, such as Lakewood and University Place, have been trying to strike the right balance for years. The cityhood movement of the early ’90s was fueled by residents tired of clutter, such as junk cars and signs. But when new city restrictions were enforced – such as a posse of Lakewood volunteers who fanned out in 1996 making lists of illegal signs and tearing some down – a backlash occurred, and the city scaled back.

Lakewood council members this week acknowledged the concerns about bringing back more stringent rules. They expressed an interest in working with the business community to reach a compromise.

“We need to have a deeper discussion,” Councilman Walter Neary said.

The council had been scheduled to take action on the regulations Monday.

Increased regulation of temporary signs is one of a handful of proposed changes to the Lakewood sign code.

The city now allows businesses to display A-frame signs and banners for up to 15 days with a permit. At that point stores must take them down for at least a week.

“It was too complicated for our code enforcement officers to track who had temporary sign permits and who didn’t,” said Dan Catron, the city’s principal planner.

Staff wanted to significantly ease the regulations, such as by allowing A-frame signs on a permanent basis. The city Redevelopment Advisory Board supported such a change.

However, the Planning Advisory Board determined that this would lead to a proliferation of signs and would “result in a negative aesthetic impact,” according to a staff report.

On a 4-1 vote in June, the planning board forwarded its recommendations to the City Council. It included tighter regulations on A-frame signs and banners.

Board member Paul Calta voted no, saying he thinks the city is “business unfriendly” and “it will pay a price for it down the road,” according to the minutes from the meeting.

The second major change to the sign code would increase the maximum size and height of signs along freeways, which city officials view as important as they try to attract redevelopment. Catron said some businesses have requested larger signs than current code allows.

Under the recommendation, the maximum height would increase from 25 feet to 35 feet, and the maximum total size would increase from 120 square feet to 200 square feet.