Tonight, the Glendale City Council will revisit a proposal to limit the size of business signs. Enforcement of an old city code has been lax for decades. Some signs reach 25 feet in height and 200 square feet in surface area.
“It’s a matter of aesthetics,” said council member Ara Najarian. As the Glendale News Press reported, Najarian says big signs do not fit in with Glendale’s look, “These signs are something you see in East L.A.”
One small business owner affected is Lucy Kasparian, managing attorney of the California Lemon Law Center. She told KPCC that mom-and-pop shops attract new customers with storefront shingles. Moreover, in what may have been an oversight by city council, the new code would not have much affect on signage of corporate chains. Reason being, businesses will only have to take down their signs when ownership changes or when they apply for a variance to amend their signs. Most big box retailers rarely give up long-term leases or change their signs.
WEIGH IN:
How big is too big for a storefront sign? How much business might be lost if proprietors have to shrink their visual footprint? Are the people of Glendale more sensitive to visual blight than other parts of Los Angeles? Why wouldn’t the new restrictions apply to major chains in the area? Are bigger corporations given special treatment by the city?
Guests:
Lucy Kasparian, Managing Attorney, California Lemon Law Center on West Glenoaks Blvd in Glendale
Tom Lorenz, Public Information Officer, City of Glendale