Businesses press city to drop changes to digital sign code

FORT COLLINS – A group of business people, backed by the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, is pressing the city of Fort Collins to leave its digital sign regulations alone.

The city is looking at possible changes to the sign code covering digital displays because of concerns expressed by some citizens and the proliferation of the lighted signs. According to the city, the number of digital signs in the city has doubled from about 40 in 2009 to about 80 this year.

On Aug. 3, about 40 people gathered at The Coloradoan community room to vent their feelings about any possible changes. City Zoning Supervisor Peter Barnes said the least restrictive action city council could take is to do nothing while the most restrictive would be to ban new digital signs and require existing ones to be replaced over time.

But those attending the meeting said the city should not be further restricting digital signs beyond what is already in the code.

“We’ve managed to work with all the requirements the city has,´ said John Shaw, owner of DaVinci Sign Systems. “Our request is to not try to control it any more – maybe even lighten up a little bit on colors.”

The city currently prohibits the use of the color red in a digital sign, allowing only amber, green, blue or white. Regulations also prohibit flashing, blinking, movement or animation on the signs. Messages must not change more than once every minute.

Todd Heenan, owner of the Fort Collins Club, 1307 E. Prospect Ave., said his digital sign has “been a great tool for our business. In the first year, over 70 percent of the people who came in for a tour was a result of our sign. It’s been a huge deal for us.”

Heenan said he is strongly opposed to any further limitations on digital signs or their banning by council.

“I made a $28,000 investment in that sign and I would be very upset if that sign goes away,” he said.

L.J. Houska of Houska Automotive, 899 Riverside Ave., said the company’s digital sign has helped its business.

“These signs help customers find these businesses,” he said. “In the past year, we’ve increased our tire sales by three times.”

Three city council members – Gerry Horak, Ben Manvel and Wade Troxell – attended the meeting, along with Mayor Karen Weitkunat. The full council is scheduled to discuss the issue at its next meeting on Aug. 9.

Weitkunat said after the meeting she was not sure what was at issue.

“I honestly don’t know what we’re trying to fix,” she said. “My gut reaction is this is not necessary.”

City Manager Darin Atteberry told those at the meeting that the city’s intent is not to damage business. He said letters sent to businesses earlier this year about possible changes to the code perhaps alarmed people more than they should have.

“I think that got us off to a very bad start,” he said. “For me, it’s never been about doing away with the signs. It’s about the proliferation of these signs and how things may look 15 to 20 years from now.”

Atteberry said he understood the concerns of businesses with digital signs but added council needs to take a look at the issue, which was first brought up during last year’s Plan Fort Collins exercise.

“I think it’s a very appropriate discussion to have,” he said.

Ann Hutchison, spokeswoman for the Fort Collins chamber, said the goal of the group called the Fort Collins Sign Coalition is to head off any further changes to the sign code.

“Our Local Legislative Affairs Committee has reviewed the issue and feels that continuing the conversation on this is bad for business,” she said. “We’d like to turn off the issue now.”