The city of Manitowoc’s sign ordinance is now more friendly to businesses.
1st District Alderman Brett Vanderkin says the change was about two to three years in the making.
Many businesses told him that the city’s sign ordinance was too strict because some wanted Feather signs, which were banned.
Once the council changed that, Vanderkin saw how restrictive the ordinance was.
“I know one instance where movie theaters like movie theater posters which come at nine feet long sizes,” he explained. “The old sign ordinance restricted it at six feet so when a movie theater put up a sign they would have technically been against the sign ordinance.”
He says the new ordinance allows for businesses to be much more creative.
It also allows the building inspector to have more leeway so there could be more signs that light up and can be backlit.
He says this could mean that more signs could pop up in Manitowoc.
