The Clark Township Planning Commission wants to limit the size of commercial signs and make sure they are in good repair and updated regularly, and toward that end, it agreed to specific proposed sign amendments at its meeting Tuesday, March 9. Commissioners also continue to look for commercial property that can be made available to attract new businesses to the area.

The Planning Commission concurred with changes to the sign ordinance proposed by the township board and did some fine-tuning themselves.

The changes, said Commissioner Bob Dunn, are meant “to visually enhance our historic resort community by regulating the number, size, and location of signs.”

Commissioners have said they want to ensure the Les Cheneaux community doesn't become overrun with signs and that all signs are aesthetically pleasing.

“The biggest thing is that we're trying to preserve the look of the town so that it doesn't get too cluttered with signs,” Commissioner Paul Smith said. “We don't want to have signs that are halfway falling down, need to be repainted, or are too large.”

The commission will recommend that signs with changeable copy, such as those on churches and some local businesses, must be kept current. Several commissioners said signs advertising an event that already has been held make the community look stale. The amendment would require organizations to change their signs within four days of an event's conclusion.

The recommendations also attempt to limit the number of signs taller than 64 feet, while allowing any signs shorter than 32 feet to exist without a permit.

“That limit is ample; it's not too restrictive to the sign owners,” said commissioner John Grenier, who has been in the sign business for 30 years. “It's really geared toward commerce.”

Commissioners are trying to avoid scenarios where garish and large signs tarnish the character of the community and avoid impressions that might turn prospective new businesses and residents away. They believe the newly revised sign ordinance can keep such possibilities in check.

“The best idea is to have some clear guidelines so things don't get crazy and out of hand,” Mr. Grenier said. “You can just plain end up with signs that are way too big and poorly designed.”

In an ongoing process of working through a point-by-point update to Clark Township's zoning ordinances, the Clark Township Planning Commission routinely discusses changes that could promote progress and unity.

Most changes are made to encourage positive attention from prospective businesses while maintaining the character of the communities of Cedarville and Hessell.

Commissioners say they want to project a welcoming environment and the township must have attractive commercial land to attract new businesses .

“The whole town board has come together and said they don't want to do mass rezoning,” said planning commissioner Gary Wellnitz, who also serves on the township board. The board also wants to avoid spot zoning.

With this in mind, several options are being, or have been, considered. Currently, the township is figuring the best use a township-owned piece of industrial and commercial property near the airport. Being near the airport could be an attractive quality, but there is no sewer, high-speed Internet, or roads to that area yet.

Taking 300 feet on either side of M-129 and switching these areas from residential to commercial has also been suggested. The planning commission recommended a rezoning of the Weston Plat, but that idea was rejected by the township board. Despite a desire to avoid spot zoning, planning commissioners agree that various options must be considered.

“We do need to provide some commercial somewhere; we can't just keep saying 'We have empty buildings, so move into those,'” Mr. Wellnitz said.

Although no recommendations came of the discussion on commercial rezoning, the planning commission will continue its attempts to balance residential, industrial, agricultural, and commercial zoning needs.

“Eventually we're going to have to zone some residential as commercial,” said commissioner Mike Freel.

The sign ordinance will go back to the township board, which will either approve it or make further changes. If more changes are required, the ordinance will be volleyed back to the planning commission.