By Andrew Getty

Working together to preserve our special small-town aesthetic

Last July 4th weekend was interesting to say the least. Here in the Code Office, complaints started flowing in on Wednesday the 29th of June—just before the rush of the weekend.

Not only was the office dealing with dozens of building permit applications (in anticipation of a long weekend), we were flooded with complaints about neighbors against neighbors.

All kinds of complaints; junk, tall grass, clotheslines, noise, parking of cars, boats blocking docks, trespassing, peeing over the edge of boats, campfires, hammering early in the morning, overcrowding of houses, unsafe rental units, sewage in basements at a business, and signs—oh boy, were there complaints about signs, especially through the business district in Old Forge.

The town has had a sign ordinance for many, many years.

In 2005 it was reviewed exhaustively, by a special committee and all three boards.

Ultimately after an advertised Public Hearing, with very little opposition, the revised sign law was adopted by the Town Board.

For the most part, the sign review and approval process did not change.

Some sign requests can be approved administratively right in the Code Office.

The Planning Board has approval authority over signs as part of a Conditional Use Permit, or any other sign that does not meet the strict criteria of the sign ordinance.

Old Forge, being just another hamlet in the Town of Webb, is subject to the same Local Laws and ordinances as the rest of the town.

When a new business wants to start, special permits (called Conditional Use Permits) are required to be approved by the Town Planning Board.

Whether the business is run by a local resident or is owned by a big corporate entity, the process is the same.

Site plan review is required. This process always includes the review of signs. It is amazing how willing and cooperative applicants are with the Planning Board when they are trying to get their site plan approved!

Usually, applicants claim they understand the desire of the community to keep a certain look in the business district and elsewhere around the town.

Most businesses substantially comply with the conditions regarding signage for their location. However, some disregard the sign law completely.

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Enforcement of the sign law is challenging. Sometimes it’s like trying to shovel water.

Dealing with smaller, family-run businesses is usually easier. Sure, they may not agree, but ultimately the vast majority of small businesses do try to do the right thing. Even if it includes coming back to the Planning Board to change their sign package approval.

But enforcement on corporate entities has proven, shall we say…difficult, at best.

The attitude displayed toward local law by a corporate business this past 4th of July weekend was flagrantly disrespectful in every way.

On Friday, July 1st, this office received numerous complaints about signs spattered all over the business lot, along the road, on poles and stuck in the ground.

The complaints objected to what at least one complainant described as a “carnival like appearance” on Main Street.

This office approached the store manager, who did not have a clue that the visual materials he had posted, according to instructions given him by supervisors, were all in violation.

He was polite and cooperative and took almost all illegal signs down. Great, problem solved for now.

But obviously his higher-ups were not happy that he took the signs down. Probably his job was on the line.

Within a few hours all the signs were right back up. Besides, the corporate president was in town for the weekend and the regional manager (not the store manager) wanted the signs up.

And so began the sign carnival competition for the weekend… If he can do it, why can’t I?

This office has done the ‘sign dance’ several times in the past few years with this same business. The only people that change are the store managers… and they get pressure from both sides: enforcement and corporate demands. And since they want and need their job, they are going to do what the boss says. Human nature.

It is amazing how a big corporation can be so “community minded” during the approval process, promising to become a fabric of the community, support the town’s efforts in maintaining a certain street appeal, and then after they have their approvals, forget it all and simply do as they wish in total disregard to what was approved some ten years ago.

To all the businesses that try to keep their signs legal, the Town says thank you.

To all those who do as they wish because “if he can do it, why can’t I,” please consider helping the rest of us to set a better example.

If we all get on the same page, we can keep our town’s appearance neat and tidy—as is intended by the ordinance—to the benefit of residents, visitors, and everyone that’s invested in our business community.

Please note that the issue of signs, the current regulations, and the problems with enforcement, have become a topic of concern with the Planning Board and the Town Board and many citizens. Clearly, this past weekend was the fly that broke the camel’s back. Some want more enforcement, more regulation, and some want less of both.

One thing is for sure, the lack of respect of local law by those who “need not be named” has ignited an issue with passionate opinions in many directions.