Proposed rules would put new limits on Cape signs

Candidates might have to use smaller campaign signs in Cape Girardeau if city officials adopt rules now under review.

New businesses would be barred from using temporary signs as permanent signs under a proposed ordinance that covers a variety of commercial and noncommercial signs.

Existing signs would be allowed to remain under a grandfather clause. That's good news to Frank Bagbey, who owns West Side Camera at 101 N. Kingshighway.

He has relied on a temporary sign parked in front of his business to help attract customers.

"It would hurt our business too much to give up our sign," he said.

Bagbey said the city should allow businesses to put up any signs they want as long as those signs don't obstruct traffic.

A seven-member committee of city inspection officials, representatives of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and the planning and zoning commission drafted the proposed sign ordinance.

The planning and zoning commission is expected to discuss the proposed measure at its July 14 meeting and could vote on the issue as early as August. The commission would make a recommendation to the city council, which has the final say.

The regulations would, among other things, limit the size of political signs to a maximum height of 4 feet. The maximum area would be 20 square feet.

But two committee members suggested that the square footage might be changed. Real estate agent Tom Meyer and commissioner Scott Rhodes said Tuesday that 20 square feet is too small.

Meyer said a standard sheet of plywood, used in many political signs, is 4 feet by 8 feet, or 32 square feet.

But Meyer said he has no problem with the proposal to prohibit candidates from erecting political signs more than 60 days before an election and requiring candidates to take down signs within 10 days after an election. Winners of a primary election would be allowed to keep their signs up until 10 days after the general election.

For successful candidates, that means their political signs could be up for five months.

City code inspector Beckie Figliolo, a staunch advocate of sign regulations, said the city can't prohibit political signs but can regulate their size and how long they can remain up.

"I don't think they need to have signs up six months before the election," she said.

Figliolo said the goal of the proposed sign regulations is to "avoid a lot of the clutter."

Rhodes said it would be at least September before any new sign regulations would be on the city council agenda.

The proposed ordinance would require businesses and individuals to get permits to erect, alter or relocate signs. There would be a fee for a permit, but that amount hasn't been determined, sign committee members said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123