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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 04/10/1972SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL APRIL 10, 1972 PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED SIGN ORDINANCE The South Burlington City Council held a meeting in the South Burlington Middle School Library, April 11, 1972 at 7:30 P.M. City Council Chairman Raymond Stearns opened the meeting and immediately turned it over to the city's Sign Ordinance Committee Chairman James Pizzagalli. Members of the Sign Ordinance Committee: Jean Hildick, George Brady, Albert Reynolds, William Wessel, Chairman James Pizzagalli. David Cleary was present as legal consultant to the Committee. Others present: City Council and Planning Commission members. Approximately 150 townspeople. Pizzagalli opened the meeting and explained that the Sign Committee was originally formed in July, 1971 as a subcommittee of the Planning Commission to look into the existing sign ordinance. The Committee has held meetings with the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission and City Council. The purpose of tonight's meeting is to hear ideas from the community in relation to the new ordinance. He explained that the Sign Committee would make a recommendation to the Planning Commission which in turn would make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council would consider the proposal as a normal ordinance. He then called for discussion from the audience. Attorney William Mikell said he was asked to be a coordinator for the South Burlington business community, representing, among others, the Greater Burlington Motel Association, Chittenden County Automobile Dealers' Association, Chamber of Commerce and the Petroleum Group. He said that businessman in the community were not adequately represented on the Committee which has drawn up the ordinance. He said the ordinance will seriously affect the business community and its employees. He noted that the business community pays a considerable tax revenue to the city. He submitted a petition asking that a number of city businessmen be named to the city's Sign Ordinance Committee. He felt that the Committee could then work out its differences in a drafting session and not in a public meeting. Gregory Premo, past president of the Greater Burlington Motel Association and a director of the state organization, said the Committee should pay attention to the petition and act on it. Peggy Bouchard, president of the Greater Burlington Motel Association, noted that most of the motel industry is an impulse operation--people see a sign and say "Let's step here." If signs aren't good enough or big enough a metal is passed by and business goes down. She added that what affects South Burlington may eventually affect Burlington. Robert Ray, president and general manager of Brewer Meters and president of the Chittenden County Automobile Association, said 10 of the 19 members of the Automobile Association are located in South Burlington with one moving into the city and another locating there within a year or two. He said meet of the dealers learned of the ordinance last week and most agree that more time is needed to work on the ordinance. Auto dealers are bound by franchise agreements which specify the type and number of signs. Peter McDowell, McNash Meters, said his firm is contemplating a new $500,000 building. "We pay our fair share of taxes in South Burlington--we have to be able to identify ourselves." His firm his three entrances off Shelburne Road which he would want to mark as entrances and exits as a safety feature. He felt the ordinance was quite discriminatory--his sign which has been up for ten years would have to come down. He would like to see business community members on the Sign Committee. Warren Smith, Val Preda, hoped that the Committee would be expanded and more thought be put into the ordinance. Bob Shearer, Shearer Chevrolet, thought the business community was still operating under the farmer rules and applied for variances when needed. He didn't feel the new ordinance task into account the size of the let and was not a fair ordinance in the way it was written. He hoped it would be gone over again. Gene Byron, Humble Dil, said he would like to see the Sign Committee include some people in the oil industry so that a more acceptable and palatable ordinance could be worked out. Frank Cota felt that people shouldn't be made to take signs down--many signs in the oil industry are nationwide. Wayne Gibson, Gibson Signs, noted same parts of the ordinance are very vague and open to misinterpretation. He felt the Sign Committee should include a sign painter. George Baron, Zayre's, felt the Committee was not representative of the business community and hoped that it would be included. Tommy Systa, Mammouth Mart, said he recognized the need for control of signs and hoped that the business community would be included in further decisions. Tom Farrell, Seaway, said he had$$t time to look ever the ordinance but would do so. Arlana Krapche wondered why the business community reacted just now. She said the Sign Committee was given a fair amount of publicity when it was first established and its appearances before the City Council and Planning Commission were recorded in the paper. She would liked to have seen the business community indicate its willingness to help at an earlier date. Mr. Gibson said he had indicated his willingness to Dick Ward to work on the Committee but there was no response. Hugh Farrington, Martin's, said his store has specific problems with the sign ordinance and was advised to put off inquiries until the new ordinance was to be publically discussed. He did not knew personally that a Committee was going to be set up. David Cleary said that in his capacity as City Grand Juror he met independently with businessman on an individual and representative capacity. He said a Grand Juror was appointed to enforce strict compliance to the present sign ordinance, which doesn't very very much from the new one. He recommended to all individuals that they become involved in the formation of the new ordinance and make their specific feelings known. He noted that tonight the only reaction is that there was only 48 hours notice and no one had time to thoroughly analyze the ordinance. He said the Committee would like to hear only specific, concrete objections to the sign ordinance. Mikell said one specific complaint was the compulsory removal of signs and removal without compensation. He again requested business community representative to work out an ordinance which would meet with general community acceptance. In response to a query from Jack Newcomb, Pizzagalli explained that the new ordinance does away with all variances and signs that were formally erected by a variance permit would have to be removed. There will be no non-conforming signs in South Burlington. Mikell noted that any law that makes it impossible to use sound discretion in certain cases should be looked upon with some skepticism. Pizzagalli agreed that approximately 90% of the signs in South Burlington do not conform with the new ordinance. Gene Cenci, Holiday Inn, wanted to know if the Sign Committee would consider working with the business community on the new ordinance. Pizzagalli said that decision would be up to the City Council or Planning Commission. Tam Schroeder wanted to know what type of research had gone into determining the size of the signs. George Brady said they had consulted the Baltimore Study which takes into account such facts as speed of the car, peripheral vision, speed of reading, size, shape and plans of letters, syllables, colors and contrast. Pizzagalli said they consulted medal ordinances from Vale and Aspen, Colordas; Carmel, California; Lake George, New York and others. Chris Barbieri wanted to knew the relation between the proposed ordinance and the state-wide billboard legislation. Cleary said according to Title 10 Chapter 345 of Vermont Statutes Annotated there would be no effect as the strictest rule applies. Pizzagalli noted Section 23 of the proposed ordinance said there would be no signs contrary to the laws of the state of Vermont. Both Dorgin noted that signs are the personality of a business and it has no chance to express itself if signs are to be all the same. Pizzagalli closed the meeting by stating the next action would be by the City Council or Planning Commission. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M. and the City Council went into Executive Session. Approved: Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.