PORT TOWNSEND –The City Council fast-tracked an ordinance Monday night temporarily stopping the permitting of new “sandwich-board” style signs for businesses on Water and Lawrence Streets with a street-level presence.
The interim ordinance — which only lasts six months — came before council for the first time for a public hearing, but the council waived council rules calling for two readings and approved the ordinance 7-0.
Michelle Grupe, owner of Seams to Last, was the lone member from the public to speak during the public hearing but addressed the larger signs issue rather than the interim ordinance.
“There are exceptions to the rules you are coming up with for some businesses,” she said.
“The idea of having departures from the ordinance is very important as there are exceptions [that need consideration].”
The temporary ordinance was created from a June 29 discussion among council members saying they didn’t want to issue new sandwich-board signs while new policies on the signs were still being hashed out.
The interim ordinance falls in line with what may become a more permanent ordinance once council hammers out the details of a new sign ordinance.
A workshop is scheduled July 13 for council to continue to consider specifics on a permanent ordinance.
What has been tentatively agreed on by council so far:
• The signs will be allowed for businesses not fronted on a major street.
• If a business is located on a major street, but upstairs, underground or in an alley, it will be allowed to have a sign.
• Signs will not be allowed for businesses that have a storefront presence on a major street in the district.
• Any signs currently permitted that are owned by a business with a storefront on a major street will remain legal, existing non-conforming signs.
• No removal of signs will take place until council agrees on an alternative option, such as a kiosk program.
City Attorney John Watts said this interim ordinance stops people from sneaking into the “grandfathered” section of a permanent ordinance.
“This preserves the status quo,” Watts said.
“It doesn’t take anyone’s sign away.
“What it does is prevent signs from being vested in against the ordinance.”
The sandwich-board sign debate has been going on actively among council members for more than three years, but the issue dates back to 1992, when a new ordinance made the signs illegal outside of the historic district and regulated them within the district.
The problem arose when no one followed the rules.
Sepler said an estimated 45 percent of the sandwich-board signs in the historic district are not compliant with regulations.
All sandwich-board signs outside of the district are illegal unless they are used for community-based events such as the Port Townsend Farmers Market.
However, no enforcement has taken place in more than a decade.
“One of the problems with the sandwich-board signs is there is no discipline to them,” said City Manager David Timmons.
“With this proposal, we’re looking for a smarter way to address the situation.
“We want to find a way to manage it rather than just put it out there and hope people can find a business because it says turn right.”
Timmons said the city is looking at a kiosk system, which would direct people through uptown and downtown commercial districts by foot.
Sepler also mentioned that city staff is looking at creating a “blue sign” type of system for businesses outside of the historic district, which could direct people to businesses as they drive by.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
