It is hard to miss the increasing number of people holding or wearing various types of signs advertising businesses in Peachtree City, and other locations around Fayette County, since the beginning of the year. To address that concern, Peachtree City Council and Planning Commission held a joint meeting Thursday to address walking signs and hand-held signage. Though no vote was taken, the meeting ended with the consensus that the signs should be regulated rather than banned and that the city staff and attorney should review the approaches used by other cities and report back.

The consensus to regulate rather than ban was expressed most often by Mayor Harold Logdson, Councilwoman Cyndi Plunkett and Commissioner Patrick Staples. The consensus included the need to address a variety of issues, such as the size and types of signs, the times of day, days of the week and the number of days per year that they might be permitted. There are also a number of legal issues to be explored, such as compliance with labor laws, security issues and having clear definitions pertaining to displaying the signs.

Planning Commission member Lynda Wojick commenting on the issues said the city should keep in mind the ambience that homeowners want to experience in Peachtree City. She also recommended that city officials reach a decision expeditiously.

City attorney Ted Meeker also weighed in on the issues.

“There is nothing trickier than sign regulations,” he said, explaining that aesthetics and safety are foremost concerns. But the city must strike a balance between those concerns and businesses being able to promote themselves. “That’s something you struggle with. Legally, it’s an ever-moving target.”

 Some at the meeting said the city’s sign ordinance should always reflect the quality of life that residents have come to appreciate. One resident said she thought the signs currently in use might amount to an attempt by some businesses to by-pass the intent of the sign ordinance.

Several small business owners were in the audience and a few brought their concerns to the podium. One of those was Mike & C’s owner Mike Healy.

“I do have a mascot. He goes out to the ball fields, to soccer and sometimes he’ll wave at the football games. Rarely have I put him on the street, but I understand why people want to do it. They are trying to grow their business in an unusual way. It’s hard doing business in Peachtree City. It’s very, very hard. It’s hard to get people’s attention,” Healy explained, referencing the customary methods of advertising such as newspapers and radio. Yet those methods may or may not work. “This (type of signage) is very effective. I know it’s effective. I know Chick-fil-A knows it’s effective. It’s very hard, with the economy the way it’s been. We’re trying to keep our heads above water right now. You talk about 13 percent (business) vacancies. In my shopping center alone, in the last year I’ve watched seven businesses out of 15 go out of business.”    

Healy’s suggestion that a substantial number of businesses had gone out of business followed an earlier statement by city staff that the city had a business vacancy rate of 13-15 percent.

Early in the meeting one of the panel members asked how many sign complaints had been registered with the city. No definitive answer was given. Asked later when the first complaints began, Meeker answered, saying they had come during the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009.

There was little mention from panel members at the meeting of the correlation between a continuously slumping local, state and national economy and the attempts by businesses to find customers wherever they can.