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i. . <br />what they allow, the number of signs and Y.heir location and any historical trend (more <br />: recently? none in the last ten years?), It is also very usefui to visualize what the cunent <br />standards ailow. 'I'his establishes a baseline for comparing alternatives later in the <br />process. <br />* Communicate with the stake holders. In one community, we had a mailed survey of <br />business owners on signage. This was followed up with an invitation to owners and <br />managers of liquor, stores and hardware stores to a discussion session, a separate <br />discussian with car dealers, and yet another with religious groups. Each had their own <br />issues. <br />'� Research other commur�ities' ordinances. l7o not copy another ordinance just because <br />it's there, but you will discover a varie�y of unique a�proaches and you wi.11 also be able <br />to place your community within the spectrum of regulations. �1re you strict, Ienient, or it� <br />the middie? Do you miss some issues altogether? , <br />* Test alternatives. It is helpful to be able to visualize different standards and how they <br />would affect your community. Have specific examples of pylon. s�gns that are 20', or 30', <br />or 40' in heigh� to compare to. Kx�ow what 5%, 10%, or 20% coverage of a buiiding with <br />wall signage will look like. This can be done with drawings, graphic modifications to <br />photos, or research of specific signs with these characteristics in other locations. It can be <br />a lot of work, but xemember tlaat you need a rationai basis fo� adopting a regulation. With <br />a pictuxe in front of you and objectives already agreed upon at the start, you can say: <br />"This size of a sign in this location �neets my standards for a tastefui environment on <br />Main Street," or 66.A sign this tall is simply out of character with our community's <br />standards for this neigt�borhood business district." Yau will have a clear written and <br />graphic record to rely on if the ordinance is challenged. Recent experience suggests that <br />the courts wili not substitute the�r judgement for that of the city (township, cownty) if <br />ihere is some rational basis for your decisions. <br />* Keep communicating. Make sure your stake holders, task force memibers, and <br />interested community members are inforrned af all meetings, especially public hearings <br />where ordinances may be discussed and adopted. You can never guarantee that everyone <br />will agree with your preferences, but you can steer clear af the ugly effects of <br />stakeholders being uninformed. <br />* Craft ordinances carefully. Translating ideas inta ordinance language �s a delicate art. <br />Consult your city/tawnship/county attorney. Make sure the ordinance ianguage follows <br />logicaily the objectives you set out to accomplish; that it is clear, concise, and campleYe; <br />that it doesn't leave any gaping Ioop holes, and that you have created only the �ninimum <br />iools necessary to accomplish the pubiic purposes you sei out to address. <br />3 <br />� _ _ �. <br />