Sign Regulation Moving Forward, City Urging For Compromise
By: Katie Thompson
Updated: January 18, 2012
A proposal 8 years in the works took a few baby steps forward today.
But not without some voiced opposition.
"Were seeing small businesses being over regulated to the point where they cant even be at their businesses doing what they need to do because they're here fighting for their right," Said Abilene Resident Pat Hippley.
The proposal is on a ordinance regulating the appearance of signs on the property of local businesses.
At today's public meeting, some owners voiced concerns that increasing regulations only hurts the local economy.
"We just keep tightening down these regulations and all we're doing is hurting the businesses. We're hurting the types of things they can do and it's hurting their revenue," Said business owner Steve Savage.
"Signage, you know, if I want to get information to my customers...It's my best shot," Said Randy Voorhees, the owner of Abilene's Primetime.
The goal of the ordinance is part of a much larger comprehensive plan to improve the city's overall aesthetics.
But they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder,or in this case business owner, so the problem lies in finding a compromise that everyone can agree on.
"If we just open it up and there's no ordinance, there are going to be some people that are going to make it look trashy, and then we're going to have all these people over here that want it to look perfect. So see it's a compromise," Explained Planning and Zoning member Tim Rice McClarty.
No matter how long it takes, the planning and zoning committee made it clear today that they are taking the time to listen to all public concerns in order to find some common ground.
But not without some voiced opposition.
"Were seeing small businesses being over regulated to the point where they cant even be at their businesses doing what they need to do because they're here fighting for their right," Said Abilene Resident Pat Hippley.
The proposal is on a ordinance regulating the appearance of signs on the property of local businesses.
At today's public meeting, some owners voiced concerns that increasing regulations only hurts the local economy.
"We just keep tightening down these regulations and all we're doing is hurting the businesses. We're hurting the types of things they can do and it's hurting their revenue," Said business owner Steve Savage.
"Signage, you know, if I want to get information to my customers...It's my best shot," Said Randy Voorhees, the owner of Abilene's Primetime.
The goal of the ordinance is part of a much larger comprehensive plan to improve the city's overall aesthetics.
But they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder,or in this case business owner, so the problem lies in finding a compromise that everyone can agree on.
"If we just open it up and there's no ordinance, there are going to be some people that are going to make it look trashy, and then we're going to have all these people over here that want it to look perfect. So see it's a compromise," Explained Planning and Zoning member Tim Rice McClarty.
No matter how long it takes, the planning and zoning committee made it clear today that they are taking the time to listen to all public concerns in order to find some common ground.
