News

Perry Council regulates illuminated signs

By CHRISTINA GUENTHNER, Argus-Press Staff Writer

Friday, November 6, 2009 10:00 AM EST

A marquee at the bottom of a Sunoco sign in Perry flashes ‘Go State’ Wednesday afternoon. The sign alternates between other information like the time, weather and also promotes sales at the gas station. The Sunoco sign will not be affected by the new ordinance, but in the future, signs that flash intermittent messages must be turned off between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Argus-Press Photo by Christina Guenthner

PERRY - People driving through Perry at night will be assured of a safer drive, since the Perry City Council has chosen to enact an updated sign ordinance.

Under the ordinance, illuminated signs incorporating the use of time-temperature, programmable messages and neon signs must be turned off between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“We realized just from observing signs in different areas that there are signs so bright that they're a distraction to drivers,” Perry Mayor Ross DeLau said.

He said it does not restrict businesses from using animated and light-up signs, but it does limit how intense the lighted signs can be.

“It restricts them from putting up a sign that blinds drivers,” he said.

The ordinance also will prevent residents from being disturbed by such signs.

“No direct light or significant glare from a sign shall be cast onto any lot that is zoned and used for residential purposes or onto any public way so as to cause interference with traffic safety,” a portion of the new law reads.

DeLau said the law was not meant to target a certain business, but to prevent potential problems in the future.

“We're just bringing our ordinance up to date. You have to keep up with the times,” he said.

The ordinance does not affect signs currently in place, such as the Sunoco and McDonald's signs near the corner of M-52 and Lansing Road, which both flash the businesses' current promotions, the time and the air temperature.

- Contact Christina Guenthner at 725-5136 extension 222 or cguenthner@argus-press.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.

Comment on this Story

mark wrote on Nov 9, 2009 5:18 PM:

" to all you skeptics of technology and specifically LED signs, the business that spend the money did not buy the signs to bother you or because they were board and did not know what to do with an extra 30k, they made an investment in their business, they could have said lets move to traverse city of arizona but the stayed and invested in the hopes that they could keep thier employees and continue to pay taxes and be community leaders and developers, if you skeptics were to all move i am quite confident that the only place you may find no business signs
and no economy at all is iraq, on nov 11 i for one will be grateful for the veterans that sacrfice so much so the business' that create our economy are able to choose one sign over another
and generate more sales and stay in michigan. "

don wrote on Nov 8, 2009 5:50 PM:

" tell walmart and all the rest of the businesses to turn off there lights to then. fair is fair "

sue wrote on Nov 8, 2009 5:45 PM:

" shut them all off the street lights and all "

Alf wrote on Nov 8, 2009 12:50 AM:

" More liberty limited by Hic town government. "

tammi wrote on Nov 7, 2009 8:35 AM:

" Good call, Perry. These signs are overly bright - they hurt my eyes. Get rid of them all. "

not state fan wrote on Nov 7, 2009 8:17 AM:

" This is to "state fan" dont you even date blame MY opinion as a general opinion of all U of M fans! If that sign said "Go U of M" i KNOW you wouldnt like it..neither would alot of people in Perry just becuase your so close to Lansing and the campus...who cares! There are plenty of gas stations and this is a free country so i will make a choice to purchase my gas someplace that does NOT explicitly note that they are a state fan! That sign is annoying and should be turned off! "

Bob wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:07 AM:

" Fascism is fun! Way to go Perry! "

mgbdjing wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:40 AM:

" No one, I mean NO one should even make negative comments on this story! Perry City Council obviously has nothing better to do than update a sign ordinance in this horrible economy! As for the Owosso & Perry businesses among others throughout the county I aplaud them for spending up to $30K for these signs! Some local businesses design and erect these LED signs. Even some schools have these in their courtyards as well! And here I am waisting my time writing a comment!!! "

not a state fan wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:48 AM:

" maybe the police officers would rather go to 7 Eleven cause they dont have state crap on their sign! "

morrice resident wrote on Nov 5, 2009 10:40 PM:

" Wow! They're worried about the "Go State Sign" when they let the adult film shop sneak in and put up a sign you can see from five miles away? A day late and a dollar short, for sure "

a big state fan wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:27 PM:

" This is directly to "not state fan". It is pretty sad that you would base your use of gas stations on what they have as a personal preference to their college affiliation. Who cares what college they might root for? Sounds like a typical Michigan fan to me. "

MSUKID wrote on Nov 5, 2009 5:24 PM:

" GO STATE "

Susie wrote on Nov 5, 2009 4:35 PM:

" I totally agree with Greg. The flashing signs at Greg and Lou's and the sign place itself are very anoying, especially after dark. "

wendy wrote on Nov 5, 2009 3:50 PM:

" seems that all the money is going to the police. drive by the 7-11 after midnight and you will see at least 2 cop cars in the lot talking for hours to each other. "

ME wrote on Nov 5, 2009 3:22 PM:

" WOW, wonder how much of the tax payers money was spent for comming up with that brainy idea??

"Under the ordinance, illuminated signs incorporating the use of time-temperature, programmable messages and neon signs must be turned off between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m."
Is this winter hours, summer hours, or year round?

whats next.. residents have to have there porch lights off at a certian time?? "

Citizen of Perry wrote on Nov 5, 2009 2:18 PM:

" Our council needs to worry about more important things like the amount of money we pour into our police department. We pour alot of tax dollars into a police department and between midnight and 6:00 a.m. the police car spends most of its time at 7eleven. "

Greg wrote on Nov 5, 2009 2:07 PM:

" Excellent! We need this in Owosso, too. Baker College's sign on south M-52 is obnoxious! "

PO in Perry wrote on Nov 5, 2009 1:48 PM:

" Well, turn off ALL the lights in Perry! Drivers have headlights! Enough drivers don't understand low-beams either! I live in the country, but on the horizon is a constant glare of Perry. OUCH! It obliterates the stars from my country abode! Save some money Perry and turn off ALL the lights. It is ridiculous to continue to try to keep UP with the times - nothing was wrong with yesterday or the past! "

not state fan wrote on Nov 5, 2009 1:18 PM:

" I wont give any of my money to that gas station if they keep that "GO STATE" crap on their sign...bad decision on their part if you ask me...lots of other places to get gas if your not a state fan! "