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? a. <br />THE POLE SIGN ARGUMENT <br />Presented by James A Burns, former chairman of the Planning Commission <br />1. Council has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers and not the residents of the City. <br />A. Otherwise, you have taxation without representation. This is the basis of those <br />who are trying to prolubit ci±ies from imposing income taxes on nonresidents. <br />B. At least 95% of all income ta.x and 30% of all property taxes aze paid directly <br />or indirectly by employees by the businesses of North Oltnsted. The bus line's <br />revenue source is the sales tax collected by businesses. <br />2. The primary use of a sign by the public and yourself is that of locating the store. Lower <br />the sign into the clutter of parked cars; pedestrians and traffic and you create a traffic <br />hazard when people slow down to find the place they are going. The secondary use of <br />signs by the public is becoming familiaz with what is available (you call this advertising). <br />3. Lowering signs to the ground creates a health and safety problem. It does not fix one. <br />A. Ground signs block the line of sight for pedestrians, children on bikes and <br />t[af?1G. <br />1. Even your ordinance in its definition of a pole sign sta.tes "any sign that <br />is supPorted hy or susp- ended from a freestanding column or columns <br />and designed so as ta permit pedestrian or vehicular traffic thereunder." <br />By your definitian, a polc sign allows propcr linc of sight. <br />B. The bulk created by the base of a ground sign provides a large mass that <br />- automobiles and bicycles can crash into. " <br />C. Traffic control devises are well above ground. Pole signs keep the driver's eyes <br />on the same level as the traffic control devises. Ground signs will take driver <br />eyes off traffic signals and stop sims. <br />D. Ground signs place colors such as red and blue at the same level as emergency <br />vehicle lights allowing them to be disguised. . <br />4. The city has no business defining aesthetics. A. There are as many definitions of what looks good as there are people. <br />B. Aesthetics has nothing to do with health and safety. <br />C. Ground signs create more clutter. Create an image in your mind of Lorain Rd at <br />Brookpark Rd with signs on ground level and not in the air. The clutter with <br />utility poles, pazked cars and tra.ffic would be made worse. <br />5. The occurrences of vandalism would increase. More police time would be required <br />taking reports and observing hot spots. You the consumer pay for repairs wnen prices <br />must be increased to pay for sign repairs.