The Dorr Township Planning Commission is recommending the Township Board approve the proposed new sign ordinance at its June 27 meeting.
The commission voted 7-0 Tuesday evening to send it to the board with its blessing.
Work on the new ordinance has been long and difficult earlier this year because the U.S. Supreme Court last year handed down a decision that signs cannot be regulated on the basis of content.
However, most of the discussion of the proposed ordinance prepared by Professional Code Inspections focused on issues with temporary signs, electronic signs and signs in residential areas.
Noting there now are no size restrictions on electric signs and rules are hazy on just how long temporary signs are permitted led Zoning Enforcement Administrator Lori Castello to say, “Some of these things are really tough in real life. You’ve really got to be careful.”
For example, most believe temporary signs are allowed for 30 days every six months, but regulations can be hazy in a court of law.
“Dorr Township has a complaint-based system (for enforcement) and a laissez-faire attitude zoning.”
Therefore, she contended, if the township wants strong enforcement of the ordinance, it might have to hire an employee to do just that.
Castello noted, Ninety-five percent of the complaints we get about signs are during the political campaign season.”
Chairman Bob Wagner then quipped, “Any way we can get all of them to be illegal?”
Wagner, however, said, “I think we’ve got a good ordinance here. I think we should approve it and then let the Township Board look at it.”
Castello agreed, saying, “I think you’ve got a decent product here. It was a lot of work and you made a lot of changes.”
