Arnold Businesses Get Permission for A-frame Signs

The Arnold City Council approved, with a bit of controversy, a new A-frame sign ordinance to help city businesses advertise their sales and products.

The councilmen voted 7-0 for an ordinance stating that A-frame signs were not considered temporary signs, the signs must be within 10 feet of the owners’ business entrance, are only displayed during business hours, and never placed to hamper pedestrian access or impede the movement of people with disabilities.

The signs are no greater than 4 feet tall or 3 feet wide, have no reflective or florescent items, and have a finished appearance, according to documents posted on the Arnold city website.

Former Ward 1 Councilman Randy Crisler said during public comments at Thursday's city council meeting at , that the A-frame sign ordinance was acceptable but that the council failed to completely rewrite the city’s sign code and improve advertising for Arnold business.

“This helps a little, but not nearly enough,” said Crisler, who works for .  

Crisler said businesses want larger banner signs to promote holiday sales. “We need to have other options available to us.”

Further revision of the sign law requires Arnold planning and zoning commissioners to research the topic and send their recommendation to the city council for another vote.

“I suggest that you go back and do this (the business sign law) over again,” Crisler said. 

Ward 2 Councilman Bill Moritz said the sign law needed improvement, but the council needed to approve the A-frame sign proposal to help to local businesses.

“When it comes down to it, we need to, at least, move forward on this (A-frame signs) and bring relief to a lot of people,” Moritz said.

“If we have to modify it, then we have to go through this entire process again,” Moritz said about the eight-month review to create the A-frame sign proposal.

“It’s a really difficult task, these sign ordinances, because you want to promote your city but you want to do it in a flattering manner,” Mayor Ron Counts said.

Counts said that Arnold Chamber of Commerce members needed several years to create and modify the current city sign proposals.

“It’s really difficult to find something that’s perfect for everybody,” Counts said.

The city is working to improve the business ordinances, Counts said.