PORT TOWNSEND — When Michael Klupfell asked the Port Townsend City Council if he could erect a permanent sign on his new business, The Village Baker Cafe, he was surprised to hear that the city would work with him.
The city sign code restricts where he can place his business sign. It won’t allow him to place it on the roof, which, Klupfell said, “is clearly built for signage.”
City officials seem to agree, and the Development Services Department has been working with Klupfell since his March request to find a way he can put a sign on top of the building at Sims Way and 10th Street to replace the current banner.
“They have been very fair with us,” Klupfell said. “They are listening, and they are being realistic.”
While sandwich-board style signs have dominated the discussion about the sign code in recent years, Port Townsend is considering ways to make it easier for business owners like Klupfell to install signs that “make sense.”
City Manager David Timmons said a new ordinance that will be brought before the City Council in July will suggest just that.
‘Doesn’t work’
“One-size-fits-all just doesn’t work,” Timmons said of the sign code, which places restrictions on location, size and color of signs.
“So the idea is to let people submit a plan to us and have it go through a design review process.
“If you want something that is unique or different, that’s fine, as long as it makes sense.
“It allows people to make a departure from the current sign code with the correct process.”
On Monday night, the council directed city staff members to separate the process for a possible “departures” ordinance from the debate on sandwich-board signs and schedule it for a draft ordinance and a public hearing.
No dates are set for the “departures” ordinance process. However, the separation will allow the ordinance to move separately through the council’s agenda from the sandwich-board sign portion, which is scheduled to be discussed at a July 13 workshop.
Add flexibility
Director of Development Services Rick Selper said the proposed ordinance would add some flexibility to the city’s sign code.
“It’s not just having bigger signs, it’s also location,” Sepler said.
“For example, the Port [of Port Townsend] is looking to install signage down at Point Hudson, but it may potentially be in the city right of way.
“If the location goes to review and makes sense, it could be approved.
“It would give us the flexibility to deal with unique circumstances.”
Timmons said the bottom line with fixing the sign codes is finding a more efficient method for advertising.
“There has to be a better way to do this,” Timmons said.
“We want it to be more than just noise, more than just spray paint on a wood board.
“If you can come to us with a thought-through proposal, we will work with you.”
Klupfell said that is exactly what he wants to hear.
“We still have to submit our proposal here, but I have a good enough feeling about it that I have ordered the signs,” he said.
“I don’t know yet if the proposal will go through the new process or a different one, but it’s good to see they are working on it.”
The city has not determined what process the sign will need to go through to be approved.
If the ordinance is put in place, the sign for Klupfell’s business could be the first to go through the process.
“If we get to put those signs up, I don’t know for sure yet,” Klupfell said, “But I guess we will see soon enough.”
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Rreporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
