Bright signs bother Zachary councilman

[Erik Sine]

Bright signs bother Zachary councilman

By CHUCK HUSTMYRE Special to The Advocate Published: Mar 30, 2010

ZACHARY — A city councilman took aim Monday at digital signs during a special meeting of the City Council.

Councilman Randy Bouley took issue with the digital sign outside La Marie Day Spa on Main Street near La. 19. Bouley said the sign was too bright at night and also violated a city ordinance by flashing.

“Personally, I think the sign should come down,” he said.

The councilman also railed against all signs using light-emitting diode technology.

“I hate it,” Bouley said. “I think it destroys the ambiance of the city.”

In addition to the sign at La Marie Day Spa, Bouley named several other businesses whose LED signs he disapproved of, including Walgreen’s and Raising Cane’s.

Prior to Bouley’s comments, the council voted 5-0 to take no action on a request by the owners of All Pro Audio to replace the business’ current changeable letter sign with a new LED sign. The request was for a waiver of the city’s sign ordinance because the planned new sign would exceed the maximum size allowable under the ordinance.

City officials said the sign is on the public right-of-way and they could find no record of a permit for the original sign.

City Attorney John O. Brown told the council that approving the new sign on the right of way could create legal liability issues for the city.

“They can stay with what they’ve got,” Brown said, “but legally I don’t think we can approve (the request).”

Mayor Henry Martinez recommended the council take no action on the request until a representative of the business provides a copy of the permit for the original sign.

The council also heard a presentation from Chip Mills, the city’s economic development coordinator, about the city’s participation in the Ready Community Pilot Program.

The yearlong program is sponsored by Louisiana Economic Development and is aimed at helping participating cities with promotion and business development.

Zachary was one of 12 cities selected to participate in the pilot program from a total of 25 cities that applied, Mills said.

The six-month planning phase ended this month, Mills explained, and the second part of the program, the implementation phase, will run from April to September.

Monday’s special meeting was scheduled as a makeup for the regular meeting March 23, which was canceled because only two council members were available.