Meredith / Moultonboro towns may restrict electronic signs

One eyes moratorium; other to vote on ban

By WALTER ALARKON
Jul 6, 2007

Two Lakes Region towns will vote this month on whether to restrict electronic business signs.
In Meredith, the planning board has proposed a ban on electronic signs, even ones that give just the time and temperature.
In Moultonboro, more than 100 residents, turned off by the colored display of a real estate company, have petitioned for a moratorium on new electronic signs until March, when they hope to pass a permanent measure at town meeting.
Meredith residents will vote July 31 and Moultonboro's will vote July 21.
John Edgar, Meredith's community development director, said a ban would prevent sign clutter in the lakeside town. "We're a resort community," he said. "We have very historic and scenic approaches to the town. . . . There's a consensus that this manner of signage wouldn't be appropriate."
Like Concord's sign ordinance, which passed in August, Meredith's ban would prohibit any new electronic signs.
The town's zoning regulations allow signs with electronic displays of time and temperature. Dover, Exeter and Conway also have electronic sign regulations banning flashing digital displays.
Meredith's proposed ban would allow two signs to remain: one at the Meredith Car Wash and another at the Meredith Village Savings Bank, whose display gives the time, temperature and a short message. The bank is allowed to change the message once per day.
Even if the ban goes through, a sign at a third business could join those at the car wash and bank; Paugus Bay Marina received a permit for an electronic sign before the proposal, Edgar said.
Several residents at a public hearing in May supported the measure. They said it would help preserve the view along Lake Winnipesaukee and thereby protect local businesses, which rely on tourism.
At least one resident thought the ban would hurt businesses. Phil McGowan said stores often benefit from signs, which encourage drivers on busy roads such as Route 3 to stop and come inside.
"We need to help these people survive and stay in business and not be doing whatever we can to put them out of business," McGowan said.
Residents of Moultonboro, a town smaller and more rural than Meredith, said they're worried about the effect of signs similar to those at car dealerships in Tilton and at real estate companies in Manchester.
"When you're trying to sell rural New Hampshire and make it look like a Vegas strip, I think it's an oxymoron," said Mary Ann McRae, a Moultonboro resident for 11 years.
McRae started the petition calling for a moratorium on new signs after Century 21 installed a display showing color images of properties.
She said such signs could hurt, not help, local businesses.
The moratorium will not affect the town's six signs now in place, including Century 21's.
Although McRae supports a ban, she was concerned that few people would discuss the matter before voting this month. She hopes residents pass a permanent ban once the community has had enough time to consider all factors.
Bob Clark, a real estate agent on a Moultonboro committee considering the electronic signs, said he isn't sure a ban is the best solution.
Clark, whose company, Roche Realty, does not have such a sign, said he has few concerns about simple electronic displays that don't flash, scroll or show colors.
"If you're going to allow business, you have to allow them to certainly advertise there," he said.

Source: Concord Monitor