Regulating signs

Whether you think temporary signs are trashing up the landscape or are essential marketing tools for small businesses, their existence has posed a quandary for Jackson officials.

Drive along nearly any busy road in Cape Girardeau and Jackson and you are sure to see evidence of these signs that advertise everything from beer specials to buffets.

As part of its new planning and zoning ordinance overhaul, the Jackson Board of Alderman has been trying to develop some rules for using these temporary signs.

City staff members found there were 153 temporary signs in the city in December. Some Jackson business owners believe these signs and temporary banners are essential to their marketing. But residents also think the signs can be tacky and unsightly, particularly when there are several in a concentrated area.

Since planning and zoning ordinances regulate everything from cellular phone tower construction to billboards, city officials thought there ought to be restrictions on temporary signs.

Both Cape Girardeau and Jackson have regulations about what kind of permanent business signs can be constructed. And both restrict signage on public right-of-way and along highways.

But neither offers regulations for temporary signs. However, Jackson discovered it does have some prohibitions about using the signs on lots where there is already a free-standing sign.

Officials reached no consensus on how or if the temporary signs should be regulated but did agree that existing ordinances should be enforced before adding new ones. City employees say any new restrictions could be difficult to enforce, especially if existing signs are grandfathered into the regulations.

Asking businesses to remove unused signs shouldn't cause them a hardship, especially if the request is posed as a first step in lieu of any zoning restrictions. If the problem continues, perhaps then the city could look at issuing permits on a temporary basis.