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Sandwich Signs Sparks Concerns in North AdamsBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
12:53AM / Thursday, June 18, 2009
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Planning Board is taking a hard look at shops and eateries around the city because of what has been perceived as a proliferation of sidewalk signs over the past few years.
Many of the sandwich signs appear to be unapproved, said Chairman Michael Leary, who requested authorization to craft a letter at last Monday's Planning Board meeting to be sent to errant businesses.
"[The letter will be sent] to business owners in the city who do have sandwich board-style signs that were not approved as part of their signage package or not approved afterward ... asking them to come before the board to have them approved as they should have been."
Leary said he would draft the letter and bring it back to the board at the July meeting for review.
Public safety is one of the concerns over the use of the signs, some of which are in public ways. City Administrative Officer Jay Green said other downtowns, such as Northampton and Rockport, have had to deal with the issue as well. The signs aren't a bad thing, he said.
"It's a positive sign, it's a sign that businesses are thriving, businesses are developing," he said. "This is part and parcel of zoning ordinances."
Some of the things to consider are colors, messages and placement, if they would be distracting to drivers or obstacles to pedestrians, said Green. In some cities, the signs are treated like canopies, in that the owners would have to have liability insurance to put them in the public way.
City Councilor Marie Harpin asked that a copy of the letter be forwarded to the council, which has referred the use of sandwich signs to its Public Safety Committee over similar concerns.
The discussion was prompted in part by the request of Timothy Lanfair to use a sandwich board outside his Los Amigos burrito shop on Ashland Street. Leary said other businesses using the signs should have them approved in their signage package as Lanfair did.
Lanfair was for an extension of his hours to 10 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and delivery service. The board last month had approved a closing of 8 p.m. during the week, with the proviso he could return and ask for longer hours.
"Over the last month and particularly over the last week, his business is booming," said Leary, in discussing the request.
Lanfair will work with the Office of Community Development on lighting and signage changes for the next board meeting.
In other business;
■ Cup & Saucer was approved for a blue awning to replace its green one.
■ Taylor's Fine Dining was approved for 11 p.m. closings and will work with the OCD on a signage package.
■ Mohawk Auto Sales request for a permit to operate an auto repair business at its Curran Highway location was continued to the next meeting. The board noted a great deal had been done in landscaping and other work after a site visit but wanted a more detailed plan on the recommendation of the city for parking. The matter has been continued for several meetings.
■ A request by Margaret Paulin to operate a laundromat at 195 Ashland St. was also continued to the next meeting. Building owner Bruce Tower said he was working to complete a number of matters raised by the city, including landscaping, the poor condition of the parking lot, painting the building and removing vehicles. The board also requested the business owner work with the OCD on signage.
Building Inspector William Meranti asked the board to consider moving toward enforcement if the conditions at the laundromat were not fulfilled by the next meeting. The matter has been before the board several times. |
| Im personally not a fan of all the hoops one has to jump through in regard to the town, but, on this point I do agree. A sandwich board can be a safety issue, as elderly and disabled people walking main street, can hurt them selves, if the sidewalk is to narrow. IM not saying a sign commition should be involved, but maybe some common sense, Use signboards wisely, keep the public in mind, afterall they are your customers. Dan at the Cup does a great job with his sign board, he keeps it our of the public way, I do think that some regulation should be involved, maybe even a bulliten to business owners regarding sign boards, placement and appearance. I would hate to be the business owner waiting 30 days to get approval to put of a sign board, that does seem like over kill | | from: xxlburrito guy | on: 07-24-2009 |
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first of all, can someone please explain the public safety issues surrounding a sandwich sign placed on a side walk. are we to assume it will cause harm or injury to a passerby or even worse, distract a passing automobile? what a smoke screen and lame excuse on the part of mayor barrett to throw his weight around at his intended tsrget, the cup-n-saucer. we all know it is retribution for making a political statement on their sign. had they proclaimed their allegiance to barrett instead of alcombright this issue would have never come up. planning board chairman, mr. "puppet" leary and his merry band of idiots, under orders from the feurher, will now have to reprimand the business owners who have "illegally" placed signs in front of their shops. what a bunch of crap! gee, i guess the sandwich sign in front of city hall needs to be removed, too! you know, the one calling for people to give blood. how ironic of its placement and message. one could easily interpret it as barrett asking the business owners of north adams to ante up some of their blood or take their business elsewhere.
Editor: The planners' concern was that signs placed in the public way raised issues of liability and did not have approval. If someone trips and falls over one, who's liable? The city or biz? We'll see where this goes. | | from: sign sign everywhere a sign | on: 07-01-2009 |
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