Fairness, improved definitions set as goals for sign ordinance revisions
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Councilman Bobby Simpson listens during the sign committee meeting Wednesday afternoon at the city council chambers.
Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014, 8 p.m. — The Bardstown sign ordinance committee’s first meeting Wednesday established some preliminary goals and a timeline for future meetings.
Bardstown City Councilman Tommy Reed, zoning administrator Janet Johnston-Crowe and Bardstown assistant city administrator Larry Green led the meeting, which included representatives from a variety of interest areas and sign company owners Tony Carey and Willie Edelen.
Reed said the committee will look at improving the sign ordinance’s definition, and also update the ordinance in the light of new sign technology and devices like LED signs.
The committee heard a review of what led to the 1994 sign ordinance, and the conditions that required the 2008 update.
Signs are to intended to identify the location of a business, not advertise the products and individual services that are offered, Green explained. Ideally, the sign ordinance treats all businesses fairly, and does not give one business an advantage over another.
Committee member John Downs comments during the panel’s first meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Green said ideally, the sign ordinance language should be clearly written and easily interpreted, but that goal isn’t always an easy one to achieve. “You can’t blame a business owner for interpreting the regulations for their own benefit,” Green said.
Downtown Bardstown has become somewhat cluttered with signs, Green noted.
“We are seeing signs we allowed as temporary signs that have basically become permanent signs,” Reed said. “We just want to make it fair for everybody.”
Other sign issues include the use of flashing and blinking LED lighting around windows, Johnston-Crowe noted.
Springhill Winery owner Eddie O’Daniel said that he hears complaints from his visitors who have trouble location area restaurants and attractions. “We need to look at better signs and better directional signage,” O’Daniel said.
The committee will meet next at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014.
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