Rob Bondy says walk-in business at his downtown Clarkston office decreased more than 60 percent when city officials told him to take his sign down.
He’s not alone.
Last June, every business in the city received a letter stating that sandwich board signs were an ordinance violation and had to be removed from public right-of-ways.
The problem prompted Bondy, who lives in the city and owns Contemporary Computer Concepts on Main Street, to accept appointment to the city’s planning commission.
‘We do have a sign ordinance,? he said, acknowledging the city is obligated to enforce regulations. ‘It was brought to council’s attention, so they issued a blanket statement saying ‘no signs at all.? Being the good business owners we are, we said ‘OK, we’ll try to make do.??
But the drop in business’and income’has him looking for answers.
The council, he said, didn’t seek input from city businesses before making the decision. With more information, he said, things may have progressed differently.
‘I don’t think it was a hasty decision on the council’s part,? Bondy said. ‘But I do think it was an uninformed decision.?
As a recently seated planning commissioner, Bondy said he hopes other businesses will see him as something of a liaison.
‘Businesses in town need to step forward and get out of this ‘I’m neglected in Clarkston? attitude they have, or, ‘my voice is unheard in Clarkston,?? he said. ‘They’ve got to come to the planning commission meetings and be heard.?
Lisa Burdick, owner of Creekside Salon, said she was disappointed other business owners didn’t show up for a January planning commission meeting, and equally disappointed with the dialogue that took place at the meeting.
For example, she said, when a colleague asked how long it would take to get signs in place once a decision was reached, the commissioners did not express much optimism.
‘They were like ‘yeah, right, like anything’s going to happen in six months,? she said. ‘Why does it have to take this long? This isn’t rocket science.?
Burdick said she was also troubled with planning commissioner’s comparisons discussions of larger cities.
‘They’re talking about Birmingham and Plymouth and Rochester,? she said. ?(Clarkston is) one block of frontage only, besides a few businesses down the side roads. We are not Birmingham or Rochester and’we never will be. So for them to go to those standards and compare us to towns that large is really kind of silly.?
But Burdick, who’s been part of the downtown business community for nearly 30 years, said preserving the downtown area’s historic integrity is important, and she’s ready to help.
‘Since we’ve always been hidden, yes it would be great to have a sign,? said Burdick, whose salon has a West Washington address despite its location off Depot Road. ‘It’s not going to make a huge difference, but somebody might drive past and say ‘I didn’t even know there was a salon down there.??
Sue Andre, who owns The Parsonage Flower Shop on Church Street, said she wasn’t sure whether a recent lull in business was attributable to her missing sign, or not.
‘It’s possible,? she said. ‘It’s difficult to judge because the weather’s been so bad. But it does seem like less people come down this way because the sign’s not there.?
Andre said she understood the problem from the city’s standpoint, but was still hoping for quick resolution of the issue.
‘One of the city council members stopped by and talked to us about it,? she said. ‘We think they understand that if you want to run a business in Clarkston you need to have some way of letting people who drive through Clarkston know we’re here.?
Several other businesses did not return calls seeking comment.
Planning Commissioner Mike Gawronski, who also sits on the city council, said local business owners have not attended meetings, and the commission, in general, has received only anecdotal feedback from the business community ? with the exception of Bondy’s recent appointment to the group.
But, he said, it’s an issue that, at least recently, is receiving a share of attention.
?(Priorities) shifted a bit when (Bondy) was seated,? Gawronski said. ‘As a business owner, he has a vested interest in the issue, but he’s done a good job of remaining impartial, but interested.?
Approval of the city’s master plan, Gawronski said, has slowed in recent months while the planning commission went back to readdress signage issues.
Over the next several meetings, the commission will look at sign alternatives, placement, and cost and try to arrive at a solution, he said.
However, since planning commission meetings take place only once a month, Gawronski noted it would likely take some time before the issue was resolved.
‘The business community is about half the focus of the planning commission,? Gawronski said. ‘Everyone is welcome. Meetings tend to be a little dry, but it’s like voting ? if you don’t come, you really can’t complain about the outcome.?
Still, Rob Bondy is hoping for a quick solution.
‘In the meantime, I don’t know what to do,? he said. ‘As a business owner, I want a sign back. We’ve got to start an open channel of communication. The city’s always saying ‘well, the businesses don’t ever talk to us. The businesses are saying ‘well, the city never talks to me.? So who’s at fault??