Last October, Dr. Kevin Roberston had no idea where to turn.
His free shuttle bus to and from HealthFirst Medical Center was in jeopardy because its parked location along M-24 was found to be in violation of Orion Township’s Sign Ordinance.
Robertson had a stack of tickets in his office when the story appeared in The Review.
Earlier this year, he appeared in front of the township’s Zoning Board of Appeals.
‘Upon review of their ordinance, they found that I was not in violation,? Robertson said.
Robertson added that he supports the intent of the Sign Ordinance, but noted that his bus was not placed for the sole purpose of advertising, which the ordinance reads as being illegal.
At least one ZBA member said Robertson’s outcome is the result of the good that can come from the township’s recently revised Sign Ordinance.
‘It was an integral part of his business,? said Township Trustee and ZBA member Matt Gibb, noting that the fact that Robertson didn’t charge for the bus service played a role in the ZBA’s decision.
The ordinance was adopted about 17 months ago.
‘The big change that happened was they gave applicants a chance to petition their signs to the ZBA,? Gibb said.
Though the ZBA has more say on signage issues, Gibb said they don’t have complete control. He said the electronic signs featured at Palazzo di Bocce and Canterbury Village were not actually granted by the ZBA, but were permitted on those properties under other township ordinances and, in Canterbury’s case, a special purpose district.
The ZBA did grant a variance to the Palazzo di Bocce sign, but it only pertained to the height of the sign.
The township has not been flooded with requests for other electronic signs, though some officials speculated the high school would be a logical candidate for such a sign.
‘I’m not crazy about them and I’d hate to see them all over the township,? Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said. ‘But I don’t anticipate that we’ll see a lot of requests for them.?
‘With those electronic signs, we don’t want to be distracting drivers on our busier roads,? he added.
Dywasuk said the biggest problem as he sees it are temporary signs.
‘They slap these up and they’re popping up like mushrooms,? he said. ‘Orion is unique. It’s a special place and we don’t have to look like all these other communities.?
‘We do enforcement on it every weekend and pick up a number of signs,? Building Official Tom Berger noted.
Berger estimated that anywhere from 100 to 180 signs will get removed in a typical week, most of which come from the township’s main throughways, Lapeer (M-24) and Baldwin Roads.
Berger said the enforcement officials act on complaints more than anything else.
‘We get them everyday,? he said of the phone calls.
Enforcements do not just center around signs, as the ordinance has limitations on other related items that are considered to be advertising mechanisms.
One such example are the balloons that had to be removed from the Skalnek Ford dealership two weeks ago.
Gibb and Robertson agreed that there should be avenues in place that would allow businesses to proceed with temporary signs if they file the proper paperwork with the township or call ahead.
‘You have to be consistent with it,? Gibb said. ‘I think there needs to be a fair way for businesses to operate.?
Robertson added that he hasn’t found the township to be unreasonable about such issues, based on his experience.
‘It’s unfortunate in this one case with the bus that it took a fair amount of time and effort to resolve,? he said, noting that he even went through steps to apply for a variance before the ZBA voted to allow the bus to remain. ‘But I’m glad it worked out.?
Many of the officials involved said that the new ordinance is helping.
‘I’ve noticed a difference and it’s commendable because we’ve been so understaffed,? Gibb said, noting the unfortunate passing of longtime township employee Tom Blazak.
Gibb said it is the intention of the township board to revisit the sign ordinance soon.
‘We gave a clear message to the chamber and the business community to come forward and let us know how this thing is working,? he said. ‘That’s why we put this review in place, and hopefully it will happen.?
To see the 29-page Sign Ordinance, visit www.oriontownship.org.