Date: Fri 27-Feb-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

signs-Nicholson

Full Text:

Sign Violations Raise Frustrations Over Local Regulations

(with cuts)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown's zoning regulations are chock full of rules prohibiting certain types

of signs. They can't be too big or too bright and owners can't put up more

than one.

However, according to Zoning Enforcement Officer Bill Nicholson, South Main

Street is littered with sign violations -- and there is nothing he can do

about it.

As Mr Nicholson points out, the enforcement procedures are not strong enough

to convince business owners to take these illegal signs down. Mr Nicholson,

who has tried in vain to have them removed, believes fines for violations

would be a helpful tool in convincing business owners to address the problem.

"The adoption of a similar ordinance for the town of Newtown would help me

control the large number of illegal signs which now appear on South Main

Street," Mr Nicholson said.

A system of fines is not a new idea. The Borough of Newtown passed an

ordinance last October, establishing citation procedures and fines for zoning

violations. Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman Stephen Koch wants a similar

ordinance for the rest of the town. His request was recently passed on the

Legislative Council, whose ordinance committee is expected to take up the

matter.

Mr Nicholson recently released a list of all those violators on South Main

Street. They include: Mona Lisa Restaurant, Dad's Deli (internally

illuminated), Trudeau's Service (15 signs), John's Quality Meats (Lotto sign),

Anne's Red Brick Coffee House, Total Body Fitness Center, Italian Pavilion,

South Main Marketplace (Grooming Spot, Ricci's Academy, Bit of Tack, Deli

Monster), Newtown Farm and Garden Center, K-9 Academy, House of Good Spirits

Liquor, T-C Cycle Shop, Lamp Crafter, Antiques (at Peck's Lane), Olde Newtown

Tavern.

Mr Nicholson said the town has been after these businesses to take down signs

for as many as five years, with no luck.

"This is their livelihood," he said. "It's not a pleasant situation. It's just

a fight. They take them down, then they put them back up."

Mr Nicholson said he could take them to court, but clever businesses owners

simply take the signs down on the day of the case.

John Palian of John's Quality Meats on South Main Street said Newtown's zoning

regulations are unreasonable for the small business owner.

"What does a Main Street tell you? It tells you that it is a business

district," he said. "How are people going to know this is a business district

if they won't let you put up any signs?"

Mr Palian said that while the town bends over backwards for places like Super

Stop & Shop and Big Y, it does little to help the small businessman.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said he supports the idea of better enforcement

procedures for sign violators, but only hopes an ordinance will work.

"The borough passed a similar ordinance, and I haven't seen a big change in

the borough. There are still some signs there that I'm not sure about," he

said.