No more electronic signs will be allowed in Oxford Village ? at least for the next four months.
Last week, council voted 3-1 to place a moratorium on all new electronic sign applications and approvals for the next 120 days or until the planning commission returns with a recommendation regarding their future in the village.
Planning commissioners were expected to discuss the issue at their March 17 meeting.
Right now, electronic signs are prohibited by the village zoning ordinance, but the municipality can and does allow them with special use approval based on a list of seven criteria contained in the ordinance.
Two village businesses along M-24 ? Genisys Credit Union and the Sunoco gas station ? currently have electronic signs. The Genisys sign displays various messages, while the Sunoco sign displays gas prices.
An electronic message sign for Oxford Bank’s main branch was approved by the planning commission in early February.
Village President Sue Bossardet said the trouble with allowing electronic signs via special use is ‘there are no guidelines? for them, so each one has different standards and restrictions attached to its approval. That makes it ‘a nightmare? for the ordinance officer to ensure each sign stays in compliance, she said.
The planning commission is expected to craft and recommend some specific guidelines for electronic signs. Or it was noted, the body could simply recommend to not allow them, period.
Councilman Tom Kennis pointed out it’s going to be very difficult to come up with electronic sign guidelines given the constantly evolving nature of technology.
‘Who’s going to write this? he asked.
Bossardet noted the village planner is preparing some recommendations to share with the planning commission.
Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth said it’s true the guidelines would never be able to cover everything, but, ‘I think we have to have a starting point.?
Councilman Bryan Cloutier was not pleased the village was addressing this issue again considering the zoning ordinance language concerning signs was just adopted in September 2013 after years of work and countless meetings.
‘I’m getting tired of making ordinances, passing things to try to help make things better and then we just keep going backwards,? he said.
Being a ‘historical purist,? Cloutier doesn’t believe electronic signs are ‘appropriate for the historic downtown that we have.?
He also doesn’t believe they’re effective.
For example, when driving by the Genisys sign, Cloutier said it’s difficult to read and the message looks like ‘gobbledygook.?
‘What good are these signs?? he asked.