PORT TOWNSEND — A new city ordinance that will control the number of sandwich board signs both in the downtown area and on Upper Sims Way will take effect Sept. 22.
“We have asked the community what they want from a sign ordinance and feel that the final product is fair for everybody,” said Rick Sepler, Port Townsend development director.
The City Council approved the ordinance last week.
It was created after meetings three years of meetings by a 16-member sign review committee that took into account 21 different issues, Sepler said.
The committee was created three years ago, at which time city staff was directed to suspend enforcement of any sign violations, Sepler said.
“During the time the committee was developing the policy, a lot of illegal signs went up and they will be removed,” Sepler said.
Freestanding signs, known as “sandwich boards,” will not disappear completely from the downtown area but will have some new restrictions.
These rules apply to all city streets but enforcement will focus on Water Street and Sims Way, both of which have heavy pedestrian traffic.
Sandwich boards promoting businesses that are on side streets or not on the ground floor will be legal, although they will require a sign permit.
For instance, the sandwich board sign advertising Jordini’s restaurant will be removed, while Artisans on Taylor will be able to continue since the gallery is not located on Water Street.
The Writer’s Workshoppe will also be allowed to keep its sign since it is located on the second floor.
Sandwich board signs on Sims Way, such as those advertising the thrift store and Radio Shack will be removed.
Those advertising restaurants and hotels, such Dos Okies Barbecue and the Aladdin Hotel will qualify for “logo signs” that will be supplied by the city and follow consistent design requirements.
These signs have a consistent size and shape, although each business can supply the graphic used for their portion of the sign.
“People who come from out of town will want to know where to find food and lodging,” Sepler said.
“Other services won’t qualify, since the locals will know where they are.”
In these instances, a single sign pointing the way to all the qualifying businesses on a particular street will be posted on Sims Way next to the nearest turn-off.
Dos Okies owner Larry Dennison said that the city “did the right thing” with the ordinance.
Richard Coletta, who runs the Greek food stand across from Dos Okies and has argued with the city about his sandwich board signs, had not seen the ordinance and expressed dismay that the city had not contacted him about the passage of the ordinance.
Sepler said that city employees would begin contacting individual merchants in the next few weeks and that all signs not conforming with the ordinance would be removed when it becomes law.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
