A while back, the city of Albuquerque was considering a strict sign ordinance that would severely curb the size, type and placement of businesses signs.
Because of opposition from the business community and from a fair number of Route 66ers who fear for the fate of the neon along Central Avenue, the proposed ordinance has been revised to the point where it makes you wonder why the city bothered at all.
If there’s anyone left in the Duke City who still thinks that tough sign laws are a good idea, here’s a cautionary tale from the Mountain View Telegraph about nearby Route 66 town of Edgewood:
Business owners in Edgewood say they are losing money, and fast, due to the town’s sign ordinance. […]
Raymond Seagers said the current ordinance is doing harm to the town.
“We don’t need a 34-page sign ordinance,” he said. […]
“It (the ordinance) is totally out of kilter,” Seagers said. “Finally we said ‘This thing is horrible.’ ”
Harlan Lawson, who owns the NAPA auto parts store on Old Route 66 west of N.M. 344, agreed with Seagers.
“We could not make the current ordinance work for the needs of the community,” he said.
The ordinance limits off-site signs, which Seagers said limits a business’s exposure to potential customers. In addition, the size and type of signs at any business are also limited.
“You can see the urgency here,” Seagers said. “We’re in the Christmas season.”
Jerry Gevedon, an owner of DJ’s Doghouse on N.M. 344 and Dinkle Road, said he’s been in business for nearly a year and still has people from the area come in saying they’d never seen his store before.
The story goes on to report that revisions to Edgewood’s sign ordinance are all but certain, and that a moratorium on the rules is possible.
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce