COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Despite a revised ordinance proposal from city staff, the Coldwater Planning Commission has essentially said no again to additional electronic signs in the city. The Tibbits Opera House has raised the funds for the installation of an electronic sign just south of the theatre building. The current city ordinance does not allow for electronic signs in the downtown area, so last month a revised ordinance was presented to the Planning Commission. The commission voted down that change.
A revised ordinance that would limit electronic signs to properties over 13,500 square feet and ban them on Chicago Street met with disapproval from most commission members. Commissioner Maureen Petzko, who was also opposed to the whole idea of an electronic sign outside the historic opera house, said it is wrong to change rules just for one entity.
Planning Commission chair Aloha MIller said she was not sure how you can eliminate Chicago Street and still have the ordinance be fair.
Tibbits Opera Foundation board member Mike Beckwith told the Planning Commission that the electronic sign is designed to blend in and enhance the building, while allowing the Tibbits to provide marketing messages to the public.
Even though the Planning Commission didn’t take a vote on this latest proposed ordinance change, Assistant City Manager Keith Baker told the commission he would meet with Tibbits officials to see what they would like to pursue next. The Coldwater City Council has the ultimate authority on ordinance changes. The first proposed change to the current ordinance was never taken to the council.
