Opinion - Leave the Sign Ordinance Alone!
By Connie Conley Citizens worked for years to get the Elk Grove City Council to adopt a strict sign ordinance. One of the most compelling ...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2012/04/opinion-leave-sign-ordinance-alone.html
By Connie Conley
Citizens worked for years to get the Elk Grove City Council to adopt a strict sign ordinance. One of the most compelling reasons was that we didn’t want our city to look like Florin Road. A pretty good reason, don’t you think?
It was a painstaking process, from residents to the Elk Grove Planning Commission, businesses and the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce weighing in, and then onto the Elk Grove City Council for final approval. But finally an ordinance was passed that everyone could live with, and more importantly, one that businesses abided by. This ordinance didn’t come about without tremendous effort and compromise on all sides. Now that all may change!
At the March 21 Elk Grove City Council meeting, one company, at public comment, requested a major change in the current sign ordinance. Two weeks later it is already on the agenda.
Here is the link to the agenda item and samples of what we might be looking at if the zoning code and sign ordinance are amended. Is this what we want all around the city of Elk Grove?
At a previous council meeting not too long ago, a suggestion from the dais was to have blinking signs at the off ramps. Other council members immediately dismissed the idea because it was contra to the sign ordinance; not to mention the light pollution and being major distractions to drivers. The same is true again.
Advocates for the sign ordinance had a vision for Elk Grove. We have a strict sign ordinance for a reason. We want our city to be esthetically pleasing. There aren’t flapping banners, tottering trailer messages or high-rise messages boards competing for attention all over our city. [The only exception being the Elk Grove Auto Mall reader board and we were promised by the council that would be it.]
The current sign ordinance is fair to all businesses, large and small. Every business plays by the same rules. We reached an agreement in public taste. How often does that occur? One company wants to change it all. For what purpose? And if we change the ordinance for one company, then we have to change the sign ordinance for any business who asks. And then what?
Take a look at the samples. Elk Grove is more pleasing to the eye without those monstrosities of additional signs and our city needs to stay that way. Some of the most beautiful cities in the country have at least one thing in common, strict sign regulations.
The reason Laguna Blvd. and Elk Grove Blvd. will never look like Florin Road is because citizens worked tirelessly to ensure it doesn’t. We need to maintain that clean look and that includes our freeways.
Some things are best left alone and the sign ordinance is one of them.
Citizens worked for years to get the Elk Grove City Council to adopt a strict sign ordinance. One of the most compelling reasons was that we didn’t want our city to look like Florin Road. A pretty good reason, don’t you think?
It was a painstaking process, from residents to the Elk Grove Planning Commission, businesses and the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce weighing in, and then onto the Elk Grove City Council for final approval. But finally an ordinance was passed that everyone could live with, and more importantly, one that businesses abided by. This ordinance didn’t come about without tremendous effort and compromise on all sides. Now that all may change!
At the March 21 Elk Grove City Council meeting, one company, at public comment, requested a major change in the current sign ordinance. Two weeks later it is already on the agenda.
Here is the link to the agenda item and samples of what we might be looking at if the zoning code and sign ordinance are amended. Is this what we want all around the city of Elk Grove?
At a previous council meeting not too long ago, a suggestion from the dais was to have blinking signs at the off ramps. Other council members immediately dismissed the idea because it was contra to the sign ordinance; not to mention the light pollution and being major distractions to drivers. The same is true again.
Advocates for the sign ordinance had a vision for Elk Grove. We have a strict sign ordinance for a reason. We want our city to be esthetically pleasing. There aren’t flapping banners, tottering trailer messages or high-rise messages boards competing for attention all over our city. [The only exception being the Elk Grove Auto Mall reader board and we were promised by the council that would be it.]
The current sign ordinance is fair to all businesses, large and small. Every business plays by the same rules. We reached an agreement in public taste. How often does that occur? One company wants to change it all. For what purpose? And if we change the ordinance for one company, then we have to change the sign ordinance for any business who asks. And then what?
Take a look at the samples. Elk Grove is more pleasing to the eye without those monstrosities of additional signs and our city needs to stay that way. Some of the most beautiful cities in the country have at least one thing in common, strict sign regulations.
The reason Laguna Blvd. and Elk Grove Blvd. will never look like Florin Road is because citizens worked tirelessly to ensure it doesn’t. We need to maintain that clean look and that includes our freeways.
Some things are best left alone and the sign ordinance is one of them.
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10 comments
Disagree. Are we trying to keep businesses out of Elk Grove? Or do we want them? Well, you will most likely get your way.
All this for a McDonald's and an Arco gas station at the Sheldon interchange (as was mentioned at the last Council mtg).
Follow the money...property owner, broker, gas station owner, campaign contributions...Hey, let's throw in some economic development incentives too! Maybe the McDonald's workers will buy cars at the auto mall during lunch like the state office workers (as one Council member had suggested).
If a developer doesn't like the rules, well let's change the rules! And please don't feed us this **** about jobs and the economy. Just because we don't want to look like a three-ring circus from the freeway does not mean we are against business. Just bring it on our own terms and follow the rules the residents have agreed to and have come to expect!
We are not trying to keep businesses out of Elk Grove. Are we trying to distract from our welcome to Elk Grove Sign with McDonalds straight ahead next exit? A great deal of City staff (ie our tax dollars to pay salaries)time and resident time was committed to developing the sign ordinance and yes compromises were made! We residents will definitely see who the city council truly represents.
I will address the first "Anonymous" poster. I am so against business development in Elk Grove is the reason why the Elk Grove City Council passed the "Best in Elk Grove Business Awards" proposal I brought forward. Really?
And if the truth be known, two things I fought for personally in the last two years, the council didn't pass!
So get your facts straight "Anonymous," or better still come out from your hiding place. I am sure you have my email address!
Broker??? That is interesting???Some research needs to be done there!
Charity events and more. Gil Moore Oil sure has one council member in their pocket. Probably lifetime gasoline too for those big SUVs!
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Corruption, conflicts of interest, personal financial gain and back door deals running amuck!!!!
WHY C.C. SO YOU CAN BASH AND RUIN SOMEONE ELSE. NO THANKS. GOOD LUCK ANY NEW BUSINESS TRYING TO COME TO ELK GROVE.
Elk Grove is quickly becoming a drive thru city along 99. You know, like fly over country. Instead of becoming a player, we are about to take the step into becoming a just another faceless bland city along 99.
Maybe we should change our city motto: Stop if Elk Grove for fast food and get some gas! (Sorry Stuckey's).
This new oversized sign ought to help cement our image along these lines.
BTW, it is funny how low we have dropped our expectations.(See comment above this in CAPS)
The possible opening of a gas station and fast food outlet now count toward attracting business to the city. I hope Mr. Starbuck can bring us something more than fast food restaurants.
Hey Connie, you held Mike Leary accountable and seems you were right.
Hey Sour Grapes in CAPITAL LETTERS, did you get you hand caught in the cookie jar?
Accountability, and those damn conflict of interest laws, sure suck, don't they?
NO COOKIE JAR FOR ME. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE MAKE MY POINT. IF YOU DISAGREE THEN THEY COME AFTER YOU. THEY GET THE 4 BOYS -1 TO DO AS THEY PLEASE.
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