HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter for additional amendments •
•
•
DAKTR®RI I CS
56 t
October 19,2012 oatA 4 !y
'�
" RECEIVE°
City of Carmel
Attn: Land Use,Annexation and Economic Development Committee E OCT 24 2012
One Civic Square VOc$ "
Carmel, IN 46032 - _
RE: Request for additional amendments to be made to the proposed sign ordinan`l 6 9 L ncs
To Whom This May Concern;
We are writing to ask that you consider amending the proposed sign code to permit electronic message
• boards for on-premise use within Carmel's jurisdiction.
We believe the City, in its initial sign code draft, may not have considered the benefits the electronic
message boards can bring to both Carmel's businesses and the community as a whole. Rather keeping in
place the suggested prohibition of these signs,we would like to urge the City's consideration of
regulations that address appropriate concerns without eliminating this valuable technology as an option.
•
Economic Consideration
The current and proposed prohibition of electronic message boards will negatively affect business
owners'well being,and ultimately inhibit the community's economic well being.The U.S.Small Business
Administration estimates that businesses can raise their revenue anywhere from 15 to 150 percent with
•
an EMC. Such an increase in business not only positively impacts business owners it also positively
• impacts their communities by increasing tax base.
Benefits Over Current Allowances
Electronic message boards are an improvement over other signage options. Manual changeable copy
signs,currently allowed in Carmel, require personnel to physically change their copy, often involving the
use of a large pole, or climbing a ladder to do so. In rainy or windy conditions,this can be a dangerous
feat.
The installation of an electronic message board reduces liability, as it can be changed with a click of a
button from inside a business. In fact, in North Dakota,the State Workers Compensation division
awarded grants to various gas stations for the conversion of manual changeable copy signs to electronic
message boards because of their ability to reduce safety concerns.
Such signs also eliminate our need for temporary signs such as banners, and ultimately reduce clutter.
Information that would take us numerous temporary signs to portray could be communicated through
one electronic message.board.
Final Notes
Please consider amending the proposed ordinance so that businesses can benefit from electronic sign
technology.There are many ways to incorporate the allowance of these signs for businesses while still
preserving community.interests. In fact, such a change would be relatively simple to make.
DAKTRONICS
•
•
DAKTRON 9 CS
aT+ li« e' ° ' x tat°€ „*�S' '" ire... a ,,.s :ail "k' ." ✓ u3 .r1-71
The following would be a simple way to permit such signs without a massive rewrite of the proposed
ordinance:
•
Amend Section 25.07.01-046,Prohibited Signs,subsection e.,to read as follows:
e) Signs of the flashing, blinking,animated, or audible type, except those giving public service
information relating to road construction and weather advisories such as time, date, temp,
weather or similar info placed by the City of Carmel/Clay Township and/or the State of Indiana
and electronic message boards displaying on-premise advertisinq. (The message can change no
more than one time per 10 seconds. Such signs shall come equipped with automatic dimming
technology that automatically adjusts their brightness in direct correlation with ambient light
conditions.)
Daktronics is the world leader in design and manufacture of electronic display systems. We are
committed to providing information and aiding regulatory entities in drafting appropriate regulations for
EMCs that cater to both community tastes as well as the needs of local business owners.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. c)-1 3 9 10 77
a'
Best Regards,. ,bT
DAKTRONICS, INC. N RECEIVED( ,a
• OCT 2 4 ti22012
Terra Fisher
State and Local Regulatory Affairs c'� '4
605-692-0200 << 0- 6 8 L99
•;,
DAKTRONICS