Barlo Signs Live Free or Die 1

There have been major changes in the relationship between small business, municipal governments and community planners. Recently, planning and zoning departments have charted a course that is contrary to the interests of the business community by passing zoning laws that erode the very core of the tax base YOU, the small business. As a result, property owners eventually find increased tax bills dropped at their doorstep because planners have overlooked a few simple facts:

1. A vibrant business community is a major contributor to the tax base.
Small businesses and their employees are significant contributors to a community's tax base. A network of prosperous retail, commercial, and service-based establishments is an expression of a town's commercial viability and tax stability. This impacts the entire community.
2. By restricting the use of signs as effective marketing tools planners have given national retailers, with large advertising budgets for TV, radio, and mass mail outs, a huge competitive edge over local business.
Small local businesses such as restaurants, specialty shops, and retailers are finding their bottom line diminishing. The corner shop and the local employment it provides should be a major concern for planners. Most small businesses do not have the marketing budgets of the chain stores and must use their advertising dollars wisely.
One of the most cost-effective advertising tools continues to be the storefront sign. An effective sign can have a major impact on a small retail store's ability to compete with the chain competitors.
Unreasonable restrictions on size, height, aesthetics,
and message content may please some planners but result in economic disaster for the business owner.
Small business needs a hand from local government, not handcuffs.
3. Local business must be vigilant. The rights you lose, relevant to the value of your business and property, are hard to recover.
It is critical for local business groups to get involved to prevent the devaluation of local business. The impact from future legislation will be unknown until you want to upgrade, change, or sell your property, only to then find out that it's been devalued due to restrictive zoning. The value of sign advertising has a direct impact on the value of your business and property.
Too often, planners, acting in what they believe to be in the best interest of the community, have passed ordinances that wind up having a chilling effect on the local economy. Business owners must get involved and stand up for their rights before zoning laws are passed. The task of overturning them later is difficult at best. Page 2 >