By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Signs intended to “brand” businesses and attract customers may be sending the wrong message about Bowling Green.
Wednesday evening, the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals heard from two businesses that wanted variances to exceed the number of signs permitted under the zoning code. In order to be granted a variance, the petitioners must show how following the zoning code would create a hardship for them.
Both requests were approved by the board, with the lone “no” vote each time from Rose Hess. She questioned the hardships faced by the businesses, and read from the zoning code about city’s appearance being marred by excessive and oversized signs.
Meijer, on the east edge of Bowling Green, and Beckett’s Burger Bar, in the downtown area, both asked for variances to allow for more than the allowed three signs per business.
George Strata, owner of Beckett’s, requested two additional signs be permitted on the outside of the restaurant’s front windows at 163 S. Main St. The restaurant already has three signs.
Strata said the additional signs were originally placed inside the windows, but because the windows are tinted, they could not be seen well from outside.
“We did a nice remodeling job on the outside of the building,” Strata said. “I think it would help distinguish our brand. It will make the windows look nice, make the business look nice.”
Hess said she was able to see the signs when they were on the inside of the windows.
“I’m not saying they can’t be seen at all,” Strata said. “I just don’t think they are as visible as they can be.”
Rebecca Bressler, from Allen Industries, spoke on behalf of Meijer, which requested a variance for the construction of three additional signs, which would exceed the maximum number of permitted signs and exceed the square footage allowed for signage.
Bressler explained that Meijer wanted to add signs saying “home” over the west door to the store, and “fresh” over the east door. The business also wanted to add two more signs to the three already at the Meijer gas station.
Meijer is “rebranding” all of its stores, she said, including adding the name “M-Express” for the gas station.
Hess questioned the need for so many signs – since the tall pylon signs are so prominent from East Wooster Street and Dunbridge Road.
Most Meijer stores have five to six signs, Bressler said. “This is actually low on signs,” she said.
But Hess persisted.
“Signs are always tough for me. I guess what bothers me – I don’t know what the hardship is,” Hess said, referring to the required criteria for zoning variances.
“It’s variance after variance after variance,” Hess said. “I also feel that when businesses come, they should consider what our codes are.”
Hess read a portion of the sign regulations from the city’s zoning code adopted in 2019.
“The city has determined that without adequate regulation and design standards, signs are a nuisance. The number of signs in the city is excessive and is unduly distracting to motorists and pedestrians, creates a traffic hazard, and in some places reduces the effectiveness of signs needed to direct the public.”
“As the appearance of the city is marred by the excessive number of signs and by oversized and poorly designed signs, both residential and business property values are adversely affected,” the ordinance continued.
“Therefore the number of such distracting signs ought to be reduced and signs permitted should comply with the standards of this code in order to reduce the aforementioned effects,” it stated.
City Planning Director Heather Sayler said after the meeting that the zoning code update currently underway will address signage.
“It will be interesting,” Sayler said.
