Published: October 24, 2009 09:18 pm      

Time to weigh in on sign restrictions

In light of last week’s ruling on a new sign for a downtown bank, it’s important that city planners take a new look at Logansport’s sign regulations.

Under the current regulations for downtown Logansport, a sign such as the one planned by Security Federal Savings Bank wouldn’t be allowed, but given last week’s ruling, the city would do well to come up with some guidelines for dealing with the next application.

At the same time, the city planning commission is in the process of putting together rules governing so-called LED, or light-emitting diode, signs.

As it now stands, the city has no such regulations, which means any business seeking to install such a sign must go before the board of zoning appeals. Setting some rules, the planning department hopes, will give the BZA some guidance in dealing with applications while allowing many businesses to erect signs without having to go through the trouble of applying for a variance.

Just what form those regulations should take is a matter of some debate.

The city planning commission made the right call this month when it decided to postpone action on the proposed regulations to give the chamber of commerce time to formulate a response.

Clearly, the chamber and its members have a stake in the discussion, and their views should be taken into consideration.

The ordinance now under consideration calls for a minimum distance of 400 feet between LED signs. The ordinance would also establish a minimum distance of 200 feet from a residential area and a minimum display time of seven seconds for each message. It would prohibit videos, audio speakers and bright flashes.

Animated images would not be allowed to exceed one color and the illumination levels would be regulated from dusk to dawn. The signs could not be larger than 32 square feet, and they could not stand taller than 20 feet.

The goal of regulations like these is to guide development. They allow a community to identify the sort of image it wants to project and to put in place restrictions consistent with that image.

Some have suggested businesses should be allowed to install whatever sign they can afford. Others favor lots of restrictions.

Some envision a community with lots of bright, flashing signs. Others would prefer a more subdued image.

Local planners are now in the process of putting together rules that will determine which vision of Logansport will prevail. If you have an opinion on the issue, now would be a good time to speak up.



Want to go?

What: Logansport Planning Commission meeting

When: 4 p.m. Nov. 9

Where: City council chambers on the third floor of the city building at 601 E. Broadway



The issue

The Logansport Planning Commission next month will consider an ordinance regulating lighted signs.



Our view

Those with an opinion on the issue would do well to share their views.