Adult Store Sign Appeal Denied

[Erik Sine]

Published: January 18, 2006

Published: January 18, 2006

By BILL CHOY

The News Guard

On Jan. 17, the Lincoln City Planning Commission unanimously denied an appeal of a sign permit for an adult store in town.

The commission put a condition on the approval of the approximately 20-foot-tall sign. The condition requires the owners of the "Imagine That" Adult Superstore on Highway 101 in Oceanlake to redesign the sign in order to address concerns brought up at the commission meetings on Jan. 3 and 17 about glare the sign might create for drivers and nearby residents.

At the meetings, residents and the manager of an apartment complex across the street from the back entrance of the adult store raised the issue about the glare if the sign is put up at its proposed height and size.

The commission said that while the moral implications of the sign and business had been brought up by many people, it had to follow the rules and regulations governing how the commission looks at signs and base its decision on the technical aspects of the issue and on city ordinances.

Some commission members told the large crowd that if they had moral objections to the sign and the store, there were other avenues they could pursue to address their concerns, such as going to the city council.

The sign appeal was first heard at the Jan. 3 commission meeting, but was tabled after more than four hours of testimony. Audience members had asked for more time to research the issue and submit comments.

The appellant, Steve Waterman, pastor of St. Peter The Fisherman Lutheran Church, had contended "promoting this type of business with an illuminated sign on Highway 101 will cause an adverse affect on our entire community."

At the initial meeting, concerns were also brought up about the lack of parking at the business. The proposed sign stated there was parking at the rear of the business and some people testified that was not true. Other concerns included fears "Imagine That" could change the sign after it was approved and put something more offensive up to advertise the business.

At the Jan. 17 meeting, the adult store's attorney, Russell Baldwin, again told the commission he felt the appeal was baseless and lacked a clear issue to decide, and he asked them to toss out the appeal. The commissioners agreed 5-1 to consider the appeal, stating they believed Waterman and community members had given enough evidence on the sign's impacts to proceed.

For a complete story on the meeting, read the Jan. 25 issue of The News Guard.

[joemomma]

Same paper, Letter to the Editor

What do you think about the adult store sign decision being appealed?

Published: February 21, 2006

The business permits were issued. Why? That should be the question of the week. Whether you agree or disagree with the type of business this is, they have a right to put up a sign. There is one thing for sure, they are receiving a lot of free advertising in the paper every week.

Leoda Barr

Lincoln City