Raising the ire of some local businesses, the City of Charlottesville recently began enforcing an ordinance requiring West Main Street merchants to remove all sandwich-board signs from sidewalks in front of their businesses.
The move by the City, however, still did not please those who were hoping for the removal of sandwich-boards from all city sidewalks.
In June, Gwen Beavers, representing the Virginia Federation for the Blind, expressed her concern regarding obstacles such as signs, chains and chairs placed without a clear pattern on the Downtown Mall at the City Council meeting, according to minutes from the meeting.
"We are concerned with the signs sitting in the middle of the Mall," said Kathy Owen, president of the Blue Ridge Federation of the Blind, who went with Beavers to the June City Council meeting.
In response to their concerns, City Council has decided to enforce the portion of the city ordinance banning movable signs from West Main Street. Such signs are still allowed on the Corner area and on the Downtown Mall.
"They wanted the removal of all sandwich-board signs, among other things," Director of Neighborhood Development Jim Tolbert said. "But we could not remove them if the ordinance allows it."
Charlottesville regulations are less stringent in this regard then those of Albemarle County, where sandwich-boards are only allowed for use as temporary signs, said Amelia McCulley, zoning administrator for Albemarle County.
Beavers and Owen said they were not aware of the Council decision regarding West Main Street. Beavers said she did not think West Main Street signs were a problem.
"The Downtown Mall is our main concern," she said.
Businesses on West Main Street did not react kindly to the new enforcement of the ordinance.
"I feel that a blind person has as much of a chance avoiding a sandwich-board as an upcoming curve," Big Mouth Pizza manager Adrian Massie said.
West Main Café, another restaurant in the area, has experienced a slight daytime decline in sales after it was required to remove its sandwich-board, manager Patrick McClure said.
"I do not think that the City should have a blanket policy regarding these signs," McClure said. "There are places where it would be potentially inappropriate or even unsafe, but the sidewalk outside my business is about 10 feet wide, as wide as the sidewalk on the Corner."
The blind community, according to Beavers, does not wish to alienate any of the merchants, especially those on the Downtown Mall, where their efforts are centered.
"We're not against the merchants on the Downtown Mall," Beavers said. "In fact, we want to do business down there, but it's just really hard to get around."
Read More
Senior VP for Operations Colette Sheehy looks back at her career at the University
By Brandon Kile | 4 hours agoSheehy’s role involved overseeing the work of around 2,500 University employees, including custodians, architects and engineers.
Will the Faculty Senate’s no-confidence vote impact the U.Va. Board of Visitors?
By Brandon Kile | 19 hours agoIn many cases, a no-confidence vote may soon be followed by steps taken to remove the leadership that may be acting against the wishes of a community.
Two senior U.Va. Health leaders quietly take new jobs without formal announcement
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoKibbe’s departure marks the end of an ongoing battle between U.Va. Health employees and their senior leadership.
