6. Enhancing the Look of a Community
Other towns have recognized that a business district can be well-designed without necessarily being an eyesore. Barberstown, OH, has offered bonuses for custom sign designs. By showing trust in their local businesses, the town not only improved the look of their business district, but helped in revitalizing the area.
Restricting signs in residential areas are welcome, as people generally want their neighborhoods to be quiet and peaceful. However, those same restrictions should not be applied to business districts.
Signs are meant to attract attention! A community with a restrictive sign code works against itself, as it puts its businesses at risk of underachieving.
In the 1970s, San Diego had a sign code that included a ban on billboards. However, a survey of its citizens revealed that the public didn't feel there was a sign problem in the first place. In fact, most felt that the billboards were useful, and good for business.