Amador County – Amador County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a draft banner ordinance that allows an exemption for one public service banner, and also enacts temporary economic hardship exemptions to businesses for two more banners.
Supervisors revised language for the ordinance to be approved at its next meeting.
The ordinance would allow one 3x6-foot banner advertising a service benefiting a local non-profit organization, only in Commercial and Manufacturing zoned districts, and not subject to any 90-day time limit as long as banners are submitted to the Planning Department to verify compliance. The section was crafted to allow Feed Barn banners for its cat or dog adoptions, which Supervisors agreed helps county Animal Control.
Feed Barn owner, Susan Manning, said in her kitten program, “we probably adopt three times what our Animal Control adopts.” She also uses a banner to promote the non-profit Tri-County Wildlife Care, a permitted wildlife rescue.
Supervisors approved language to declare an economic need that would allow for one 60-square foot banner per parcel for advertising, along with another 25-square foot public services banner. The economic need in the code would stay in place as long as the county’s “sales use tax revenue is less than $1.25 million.” Supervisors also directed staff to review the practice of businesses under the ordinance in six months and report to the board.
Walter Wiseman of Roundtable Pizza, representing Sharon Cassella (owner of Strings Restaurant and Baskin Robbins), urged a 120-square foot limit for two banners, and said “the six-month evaluation really works for everyone.”
Supervisor Ted Novelli said if something upsets the public, we can address it in six months. Brian Jobson argued that “it will degrade the scenic quality of our county to have two 60-foot banners per business,” as recommended by the Planning Commission. The Commission wanted them kept on buildings to reduce clutter.
Supervisor John Plasse said they should weigh “how much business we chase away from Amador County for being overly bannered, versus how much business we retain by having more banners.”
Manning said she uses six to eight banners at a time. Some show products and livestock, and three are for non-profit organizations. Plasse said the product banners should be kept inside businesses, but he knew Feed Barn benefits the county.
Supervisor Chairman Louis Boitano worried about clutter but understood the need for banners not mounted on buildings, because of a lack of road frontage. He was glad county code did not allow billboards though a couple will be grandfathered in.
The ordinance would allow either type of banners anywhere on a business parcel. Supervisor Brian Oneto wanted to stress that any allowance in the economic needs ordinance would be temporary.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
