Mayoral Forum-Sixth Question

6. Please comment on the Land Use Code and the Sign Code, including their conception, adoption, and implementation.

Larry Steele:

I was not able to locate enough info on the Land Use Code to compliment on it. The Sign Code has it pluses and minuses. A big plus is that in a major wind storm less signs will be ripped apart and blow in the way of oncoming traffic. A big minus is that it takes away from the American Landscape. Business signs have been an American Icon for decades now.

Susan Kahn:

This area is extensive. Could you be more specific? A plan is important. Spot zoning is not good. On signage implementation it allows time for compliance. Decisions need to be fair.

Ed McKnight:

Current Sign and Land Code changes have their roots in citizen critique of the appearance of the city. The codes are supposed to guide(control) growth to create a positive(aesthetic) image to draw investment into the community. There are other reasons a business might locate somewhere besides how a place looks, like affordability or freedom (the absence of government micro managing or changing the rules in the middle of the game). I understand there was a lot of opposition to the new code but it was adapted anyway. In my discussions with people spotty code enforcement is a regular theme and I only wonder if this would continue with the sign and land use or if this will initiate a new era of code enforcement.