Many Residents Against, Businesses For LED Signs

Nearly two years after two South Kingstown pharmacies installed LED signs along the Kingstown Road corridor, the town is still grappling with a decision of whether to regulate the technology or ban it outright. On Monday night the Town Council will decide whether or not it will extend a moratorium — pending further study — for a sixth time since August 2010.

The Planning Board, council, residents and downtown business owners have weighed in; some have hired lawyers; and last week, residents met again with representatives from the council and Planning Board. This time the town brought in a representative from LED sign manufacturer Daktronics, Inc., and  local electrical engineer Joseph Hultquist.

Daktronics representative Robert Messier testified that LED bulbs are more energy efficient and can cut down on light pollution because the bulbs are dimmer and directional — unlike the fluorescent or incandescent bulbs typically used to light outdoor signs.

"LEDs are substantially less bright at night," said Messier as he explained the technicalities of the self-adjusting electronic messaging board. "From 100 percent on a bright sunny day, it goes down to about 3 percent at night."

Hultquist questioned Messier's theory that LED-lit signs could save energy or money for businesses.

"There is no doubt that LEDs are a more efficient light source than fluorescent or incandescent or any other light source, but I would say if [businesses] are using these on the inside too, that is where most of their savings are coming from," said Hultquist. He explained that although LED lighting is more energy efficient, LED signs need to be lit throughout the day — even more so than at night — in order to be visible to the naked eye.

"Just because something is more efficient by itself doesn't mean the overall picture is going to save you money," he added.

Although light spillage and saving energy is a hot button for some, most residents who spoke last Wednesday were most concerned with aesthetics and safety.

"Our problem as a town is that we could have a really raggedy and ugly bunch of things happen there because we don't have a way to control the signs," said Andrea Sarrasin, resident.

Nearly three dozen residents were in attendance for the work session where Daktronics representative Robert Messier brought out a 4-foot by 7-foot-6-inch LED sign to help residents envision how they could be regulated to suit the town's character.

"I think we would have to keep it small but we could end up with something that looks better than what we have out there now," said Carol Hagan McEntee, council vice president, after the work session.

Originally, the Planning Board moved to ban the technology outright, but in a , merchants in the commercial business district hired a lawyer to encourage the board to study how the technology could be regulated and used. The town's sign ordinance has not been updated in 35 years and the present moratorium was introduced after LED signs were erected at CVS Pharmacy and Wakefield Prescription.

"It's not that they are going to go out and buy it immediately, but there is interest," said Larry Fish, chairman of the town Economic Development Committee, who represents a swathe of South Kingstown business who want to see the signs regulated properly and allowed downtown.

"I think it should be looked at as just a new technology," said Fish at the Feb. 15 work session about the signs that can cost from $15,000 to $30,000. "It's just a new technology that needs to be controlled and that's all. It's not a big deal.

The Planning Board will recommend the council extend the moratorium until August so that residents' and businesses' interests can be thoroughly explored.

Flashing LED-type signs are not allowed in the historic Main Street district and if an ordinance is approved, that would not change. It would only apply to businesses in the commercial highway district, which 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. The three existing LED signs — at CVS on Main Street, Wakefield Prescription on Kingstown Road and near Route 138 at the Ryan Center — would be grandfathered in.

One resident, Ed White, hopes to stop the deliberations on Monday. With a petition drafted via Change.org yesterday, White hopes to gain 500 signatures to block the council from considering any changes to the sign ordinance that would allow for LED technology.

On at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, nine people had signed the petition and the goal was cut in half. White was hoping for 250 signatures. By press time on Thursday, that number had grown to 95 and the goal augmented accordingly.

"I don't think a petition could block the council drafting an ordinance, but we're certainly aware of it and it will be added to the public record for consideration," said Vincent Murray, planning director.