Sign ordinance stirs more controversy

By LISA HOBBS Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

If things stay unchanged with the new sign ordinance, signs like the ones placed by Aycock Fence Company will not be allowed on fences. According to the current code, the signs are a violation as commercial advertisements are not allowed on fences.

After spending weeks arguing with local painters, it looks like the McMinnville Regional Planning Commission might have to go a few rounds with fencing companies. The realization came after a recent meeting revealed the signs left dangling on fences by those companies aren?t allowed under current city codes.

After being told for a second time by Planning and Zoning that their business banner placed on a fence violated city codes, Alon and Kristy Hutchins, owners of Next Generation Auto Repair on Sparta Street, were informed they would be fined if the banner wasn?t removed. During the last meeting of the commission, the local couple came with concerns regarding their business.

The business, which is set back from the road and located between two businesses that are close to the road, is difficult to see by passing motorists.

?I know we were told that we are not supposed to have the banner on the fence,? said Kristy. ?But we need this banner for our business.?

According to the business owners, motorists will be unable to recognize their business without the sign. The business has been located on Sparta Street for the past five years and in that time, several customers have had a hard time finding the business because of where it is located.

After being told by the commission that the current code does not allow advertising signs to be placed on fences, a question was posed to the committee which caught commission members off guard.

?Most of the fences have either an ACE or an Aycock sign placed on them,? said Alon. ?What?s the difference between their signs and our sign? It?s still on a fence. Are small businesses being singled out??

After a brief discussion, the commission conceded that advertising by fencing companies was also against the current code and denied the allegation that small businesses were being singled out.

?Right now the ordinance says no signs on fences,? said Mayor Royce Davenport, who sat in on the meeting. ?If you see a sign, most of the time it?s because no one has complained or the department is pretty busy and they just haven?t seen it. No one has ever thought about the other signs.?

Because of this new complication, a vote regarding the current sign code ordinance will be pushed back to give the commission time to look into what signs, if any, will be allowed on fences. Exceptions expected to be included are ball field fences and signs required by law. Not expected to be allowed will be banners or any commercial advertisements on fences.

?Not having a sign could jeopardize our business,? said Kristy after the meeting. ?We?ve been thinking that maybe it?s not worth it. With so many businesses going under, you would think the city wouldn?t make having a business any harder.?