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Wednesday, 03 January 2007 |
Councilors agree to legislate bench ads
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
A recommendation to legislate park benches with advertising garnered unanimous support Tuesday from Wapakoneta City Council members, who are expected to hear if any problems exist with the recommendation Jan. 15.
Council’s Streets, Alleys and Sidewalks Committee Chair Rodney Metz requested approval of the recommendation to consider advertising benches as signs as defined in the city’s codified ordinances under the category of “other” signs. He also said advertising benches should be subject to the ordinances requirements including the permit process, fees and location requirements.
Metz, who proposed the signs must be smaller than 30 inches in height and 72 inches in length, said plans must be submitted to the city’s Planning Commission for approval.
“It is our recommendation that the Planning Commission consider the construction materials of these sign benches to ensure they are constructed so as not to present any danger to persons who may sit upon them or be uprooted by persons or inclement weather conditions,” Metz said while reading the recommendation. “I am sure City Law Director Dennis Faller will review this, and if there are any necessary changes he will make us aware of them and we can then take appropriate action.”
The recommendation rescinds permission granted by city councilors given April 2, 1997, to the late Cal Schneider, former owner of Schneider National Sign Co., to install the park benches with advertising backs.
Metz told councilors existing signs would have to conform to the new requirements, but advertising park benches placed by Schneider National Sign Co. can stay in place until a one-year moratorium expires in August.
Safety-Service Director Rex Katterheinrich said company officials told him they would discontinue placing and recall the advertising park benches on Aug. 1, when contracts with their clients expire.
Katterheinrich said several of the clients expressed an interest to continue placing the advertising park benches within the city.
City councilors supported the recommendation for legislation.
“There has been some concern about too many benches located too close together, particularly on Bellefontaine Street — something needed to be done and the issue needed to be addressed,” 3rd Ward Councilor Bonnie Wurst said. “They (advertising park benches) ended up being only a form of advertising, when one of its original intent was to provide a place to sit as well as provide an advertising avenue.”
Wurst credited committee members for wording the recommendation so it is clear the advertising park benches should not be on city property or in the city right of way. She also supported the size limitation because the signs are of varying sizes at present.
“I also like the fact it requires people to go to the Planning Commission because it will keep too many signs from popping up in the same place,” Wurst said.
One councilor said he hopes the proposed legislation does not stifle business start-ups or expansion in the city.
“When they started to put more than one bench in a location, the issue focused more on advertising than on placing park benches — and I believe they should fall under the sign ordinance,” 2nd Ward Councilor Dave Campbell said. “The only thing I am hesitant about is the proposal being so strict. I don’t want to have so strict of a sign ordinance that it would hold back somebody from coming to Wapak.”
Councilor-at-large Wilbur Wells favored the recommendation of tying the advertising park benches to existing city ordinances and requiring the Planning Commission to grant approval. He also supported the fact a permission letter must be on file if the advertising park bench is located on another person’s property.
“I think we did the right thing by making those advertising park benches abide by the same rules and regulations as other signs,” Wells said. “I think while it will not limit the total number of advertising park benches in the community, but it should help control the number of advertising park benches in any one place and where they can be placed.” |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 January 2007 )
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