City sign ordinance yet to pass
Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Signs, signs, everywhere a sign – and Bella Vista has nothing that will regulate them – yet. During a meeting of the City Council Monday, at which much of the talk was about a proposed sign ordinance, the members voted to hold off for now on casting a final ballot and enacting a law that would regulate signs, banners and similar items.
"Many of the businesses (in Bella Vista ) are of the small variety; are we helping them to exist if we're not allowing them to put up their signs ?"asked Mayor Frank Anderson. After hearing from three area businessmen who protested the sign ordinance as written because they believed it would harm their sales, in particular limiting the use of banners, Council voted to not pass the ordinance as presented and chose to spend more time hammering out details.
Anthony Mc Gaughy spoke for Nunnally Chevrolet North, saying he would be willing to pay a fee for additional banners and balloons if that is what it would take.
"We all want to increase sales and traffic in Bella Vista," he said.
Paul Buckner, of Buckner Computers, spoke to the council as a representative of a number of businesses.
"We're willing to work with you," he said, but wanted a vote on the new law tabled. "The voice of the document has changed considerably (since it was first drafted ). We received the revised edition this afternoon. We would like more time. "Had the council elected to vote on the ordinance Monday, as it would have been the third time, the results would have been final. "I believe, personally, it needs more work," said Anderson.
Council will now go back and look at making some changes to the document.
They include changing the height of numbers posted on a building to six inches instead of four and increasing the allowable size of real estate signs. In addition, the allowable time for temporary signs for business sales events and promotions will be increased from 15 days to 60 days. Council:
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