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<br />221 <br /> <br />FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1986 <br /> <br />r_ <br /> <br />We estimate that the total value of the relocation of signs to date, that <br />were considered to be nonconforming under the City's Zoning Ordinance, but <br />now conforming under the State Code as interpreted by the City Attorney, <br />to be approximately $24,000 (estimate from sign company). <br /> <br />It is possible that some of these businesses will ask for compensation for <br />money spent in relocating their signs. However, my feeling is that their <br />effort to bring their signs into conformity has been in accordance with the <br />ordinance objective but if these people wish to file a claim then I believe <br />that we have an obligation to arrive at a settlement on an individual nego- <br />tiated basis. <br /> <br />,-. <br /> <br />I would recommend that we advise immediately all other nonconforming busi- <br />ness operators who have signs erected prior to April 1980, which meet the <br />requirements of Section 15-1.492 of the State Code--Vested Rights Not Im- <br />paired; Nonconforming Use--that their signs can remain at their existing <br />location. This would include all signs now under consideration by the <br />Board of Zoning Appeals. <br /> <br />City Manager Brown, verbally, provided Council with additional background information <br /> <br />pertaining to enacted amendments to the "sign ordinance" resulting from studies and <br /> <br />recommendations made in 1964 by City & Town Planning Associates, Consultants, and the <br /> <br />Martinsville Planning Commission, including the evolution of present zones, plus copies <br /> <br />of excerpts from City Council's meetings held April 8, 1980, and April 22, 1980, and <br /> <br />copies of relevant portions of Section D of the City's current Zoning Ordinance. <br /> <br />Mayor Cole, after posing the question as to whether the City has required "....anybody <br /> <br />,- <br /> <br />to conform who should have been 'grandfathered"', recognized the following citizens and <br /> <br />representatives of local business firms who described to some degree the effect--and <br /> <br />results of enforcement--of the City's sign ordinance (as amended in 1980) upon their <br /> <br />firms' signs: <br /> <br />1. Mrs. Christine M. Bennett, Realtor, 818 Starling Avenue, and owner <br />of Rimmer I s Jewelry, 119 East Main Street. <br /> <br />2. Mr. Thomas H. Leath, Secretary, Townes Furniture, Inc., 44 Franklin <br />Street, who urged that Council assume more of a position as being <br />in partnership with local businesses, especially in the downtown <br />area, in order that business "downtown" might be enhanced to its <br />potential and, too, while the sign ordinance enforcement may achieve <br />some aesthetic improvements it should not take precedence over and/ <br />or preempt "....good business". Mr. Leath also commended Councilman <br />