Council Extends Ban on LED Signs

The Town Council voted Monday to eliminate the sunset clause on a townwide ban on electronic message board signs in order to hold a series of forums to gauge public opinion.

This is the sixth time the council pushed out a decision to regulate signs with light-emitting diode (LED) technology since the ban was implemented in August 2010.

“We have taken out the sunset clause ad that will allow the Planning Board to do its due diligence in reviewing our entire sign ordinance inclusive of the LED portion,” said Carol Hagan McEntee, council vice president. “And [it should] send recommendations and include a minimum standard that would allow LEDs.”

Council President Ella Whaley said over next six months to one year the Planning Board would engage the community in a series of forums before deciding whether to regulate or continue a prohibition on signs with LED technology. To see the Planning Board's recommendation, click here.

Town Planner Vincent Murray said the board would use the time to complete a comprehensive update of the entire sign ordinance for the first time since 1976.

“If [the Planning Board] is whole-heartedly against the signs, why put in a minimum,” asked Councilwoman Kathleen Fogarty. “As I have said in the past, this sign ordinance has been so overwhelmingly negative to people that I just don’t know why we would put minimum standards in place if we have a prohibition in place.”

McEntee said she wanted the board to define instances when the technology could be used, as with the clock at Newport Federal Savings Bank on Old Tower Hill Road and gas pricing signs.

“It seems to me that there is a big difference between those two pharmacy signs and the other ones,” she said. “I thought it would be nice to see both sides.”

Fogarty said the ordinance would only expressly ban message boards using LED technology, not the static signs.

“I am concerned about their safety and appearance; I think the appearance of the signs is totally unsuitable for South Kingstown,” said resident Mary Lindsay.

“The light is so bright that it is totally distracting,” Lindsay added, discussing the two existing signs in town. “I don’t see the necessity. It is so out of character to build these downtown. We are tying to add some character to town and meanwhile we put up these huge excessively large, excessively bright LED signs.”

The ban was enacted after two pharmacies in the Kingstown Road corridor — CVS and Wakefield Prescription — erected LED message board signs. The town’s ordinance did not expressly ban the technology, though flashing signs were already prohibited.

The Wakefield Prescription sign, the first in town after the state built the sign near the Ryan Center on the University of Rhode Island campus in Kingston, flashed when it first went up, but zoning enforcement officers have since told property owners it is against code.

“I’m against for safety purposes,” said Lindsay. “The first time I saw the Wakefield Prescription sign flipping, I drove up on the curb.”

One opposed resident started circulating an online petition last week to illustrate resident’s opposition to the signs. Ed White told the council he had collected 246 signatures.

“I feel the quality of life here in South Kingstown is probably the most valuable asset we as citizens and business owners have,” he said. “I think the signs themselves are the issue and we are taking a slippery slope that will ultimately harm business. This will take the town in the wrong direction. We should be leaders and not followers when it comes to community planning.”

Murray said the Planning Board would likely study perspectives for setting standards on the use of the technology and the complexities regulating the lighting technology.

“We all have skin in this,” said White. “If the local economy in Wakefield tanks, we are all going to pay the price. This is not just about business, this is about citizens as well and I think it is shortsighted to suggest this will improve business.”

“In general, an LED sign on Main Street in Wakefield is not going to take business from Main Street in East Greenwich,” agreed Steve Corley, of West Kingston. “An LED sign at Arnold’s is going to take business from Damon’s. It is not going to bring new business to town; it is going to centralize business.”

If the council lifts the ban on LED signs, they would only be allowed in the commercial highway district that extends down Old Tower Hill Road west from Route 1 through the intersection with Kingstown road to the Citizens Bank on Main Street. The district also encompasses the area of Kingstown road from Benny’s south to the Narragansett town line.

Several residents told the council they felt their voices had been lost in the process so far and hoped the council would follow through with its promise of community forums to help craft an ordinance addressing LED signs.

“When people are sitting at tables and able to have conversations you get varied, widely based opinions, and people feel that they have been heard and contributed,” said Jonathan Daly-Labelle.