GILROY
–
”
Signs, signs everywhere there’s signs …
”
so the song goes.
On Gilroy’s commercial streets these days, those five words sum
up the scene well. Even too well, for some business interests in
town.
For the past four years, the city has allowed merchants to keep
portable signs in front of their businesses. And by taking a stroll
down just about any Gilroy commercial street, it’s obvious the
merchants like the decision.
GILROY – “Signs, signs everywhere there’s signs …” so the song goes.
On Gilroy’s commercial streets these days, those five words sum up the scene well. Even too well, for some business interests in town.
For the past four years, the city has allowed merchants to keep portable signs in front of their businesses. And by taking a stroll down just about any Gilroy commercial street, it’s obvious the merchants like the decision.
“It’s a phase we’re going through I believe. There’s a ton of new small businesses around and they’ve yet to become well known in the community,” said Norm Thompson, a Gilroy Planning Commission member who enjoys taking a stroll around this city in his free time. “Of course I’d rather see grass or trees on a well-groomed boulevard.”
Portable signs, or A-boards, help smaller businesses advertise their goods and services without paying for large marquee-style signs.
On just one side of the street along a one block stretch of First Street – east of Wayland Avenue – there are six A-boards, each of which stands in addition to a permanent sign on the street or nearby.
“It doesn’t bother me. I don’t think the signs are in anyone’s way,” says David Ngo, owner of Gilroy Computer Service, one of the few stores that does not use A-boards. “I think most customers look at the yellow pages before using a store like mine.”
However, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Susan Valenta worries the proliferation of signs may be a problem if steps aren’t taken soon.
On a recent walking tour she took of downtown Gilroy, Valenta assessed various issues on Monterey Street. One thing that stood out was amount of A-board signs in violation of the city’s codes.
Essentially, signs must be no more than 4 feet high and 2 1/2 feet wide. They also must be off a sidewalk’s pathway on the part of the street nearest the curb.
Amongst the seven city guidelines on signs, there also are limits on what can be advertised.
For instance, only the name of the business, type of business, special promotions, hours of operation, and/or phone number are allowed.
Valenta said a number of signs in Gilroy seem to violate at least one of the city’s seven guidelines.
Perhaps the most prevalent violation is when merchants keep the signs on the sidewalk after business hours. Along that one stretch of First Street, one business was in violation Tuesday afternoon.
“Once one business stretches the rules, the neighboring business often feels they can, too,” Valenta said. “The rules are not real stringent.”
Valenta has considered running a seminar for downtown merchants regarding the use of signs because she does not want to see the violations increase to a point that puts the advertising privilege in jeopardy.
“It may be timely now for this information goes out to business owners,” Valenta said. “I was planning to make my observations known to the (Gilroy Economic Development Corporation).”
As for city officials, there is no plan to start cracking down on sign violations. The city enforces violations on a complaint-driven basis.
“As far as I know, there have been no formal complaints about the signs,” Planning Division Manager Bill Faus said.
Faus acknowledged he’s had conversations with people regarding sign violations, but none of the people he spoke with made a formal complaint.
