Amador County – The Amador County Board of Supervisors last week put a delay on enforcement of the county sign ordinance to pursue possible expansion for the use of banners by businesses, in particular for many in the Martell area.
Planner Susan Grijalva said the push is to allow banners more liberally. Several business representatives have been found in violation of the current ordinance, which limits banner use by one business to 90 days in calendar year total for any banner. She said that means that one banner used for a spring sale for three weeks, would leave the business with 69 days of banner usage.
Businesses say it limits their ability to do business, and the restriction is hurting them economically and they need to advertise.
The Supervisor Land Use Committee of Richard Forster and Louis Boitano recommended “discussion as to whether the board wants to authorize relief for business banners onsite until the sign ordinance is reviewed and modifications made.”
Forster said they had a lot of input from their last meeting and heard good reasons to change it, not just economic reasons, but because some of it just does not make sense. Supervisor Chairman John Plasse agreed and said they need to make a comprehensive review of the ordinance relative to banners.
Supervisor Brian Oneto said the direction should include that if there is a health or safety issue, they should go ahead and enforce the ordinance, but if there is no harm, they should just go ahead and leave the banners.
Boitano said some people are against signs. He said a resolution sending the issue to the Planning Commission for public hearings should let the commission be aware that some people are against signs and banners.
Forster said with a business using a banner like Feed Barn, for adopting pets, it directly helps the county, because they can place more kittens than Animal Control can place.
Grijalva said the Land Use Committee gets feedback on needs and opinions and exchanged views. She said they are expecting to have more public workshops to get the opinions of people, then they will go to the planning commission for a public hearing, and it will probably take 4-6 months to go through that process. The Planning Department needs to prepare a draft ordinance amendment, and they expect to have a couple of workshops, but with holidays, it may be pushed back.
Grijalva said hopefully they will have something by the end of the year to take to the Planning Commission.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
