COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Tibbits Opera Foundation is making another attempt to have an electronic message sign installed just south of the Tibbits Opera House on South Hanchett. A variance request is scheduled to come before the Coldwater Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday.
The Tibbits Opera House property is zoned C-2 Central Business District and city zoning ordinances prohibits the installation of electronic message signs in those areas. Tibbits wants to use the sign to promote upcoming events.
The Tibbits has raised the funds for the installation of the electronic sign but they met a Coldwater Planning Commission road block earlier this year.
The Planning Commission in February voted down a revised city ordinance that would limit electronic signs to properties over 13,500 square feet and ban them on Chicago Street.
Commissioner Maureen Petzko, who was also opposed to the whole idea of an electronic sign outside the historic opera house, said at the time it was 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.
The Coldwater City Council has the ultimate authority on ordinance changes.
