PORT TOWNSEND — As construction on the Thomas Street roundabout on Upper Sims Way nears completion, several local merchants believe the planned landscaping will be bad for business.
The city’s plan is to plant 130 trees on both sides of Sims Way to create a promenade effect.
This will force the relocation of several business signs, placing them behind the sidewalk and the trees.
This, according to about a dozen business owners who met on Monday morning, makes their businesses harder to find.
“People don’t know where we are,” said Hank Sukert, owner of the Highway Twenty Roadhouse Restaurant.
“They drive by and can’t see our sign, so they turn their heads while driving — and that’s a huge public safety concern,” Sukert said.
Engineer hears gripes
At Monday’s meeting, the city was represented by City Engineer Dave Peterson, who listened to the merchants’ gripes.
In response, Peterson said he could not answer many of the questions asked and instead set up a meeting for next Tuesday.
Between now and then, Peterson will attempt to clarify the sign policy using other city resources.
On Monday afternoon, City Manager David Timmons called the meeting an “ambush” as Peterson was not expecting to address a large meeting.
“Dave thought he was just meeting with Hank Sukert about his sign,” Timmons said.
“He was surprised by all the people present and was not prepared to answer all of their questions.
“Whenever you address a citizens’ group, it helps to have all the information you need,” Timmons said. “Dave didn’t bring along that information because he didn’t know that he had to.”
Sukert said moving the sign behind the sidewalk and the proposed line of trees would hurt his business, and some more creative solutions might be necessary.
“I thought of painting my building hot pink,” he said, “so anyone looking for the restaurant would know to look for the pink building and any of the other businesses could give directions like, ‘I’m right across from the pink building.'”
‘Lost a lot of business’
“I’ve lost a lot of business because I don’t have good signage,” said JiffyLube Manager Mike Austin.
“I’m down about 34 percent, and I need to have one of my employees out in front of the store waving a sign to let people know where we are.
“So I’m paying someone $9 to $10.50 an hour to do nothing.”
Timmons said many of the rules governing signs come from the state rather than the city.
He also said the trees will not block the signs because as they grow larger they will be replaced by smaller trees.
The next meeting will take place at 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Highway Twenty Roadhouse Restaurant.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
