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Lighting up Canfield
CANFIELD
Canfield City Council may have to re-examine a failed digital-signage proposal if the city’s planning and zoning commissioners eventually approve it.
Mark Fortunato, city attorney, drafted a new proposal for the signs after citizens began asking about their implementations.
“The city wants to take another look at it [digital signage] and consider adopting regulations that would allow it,” Fortunato said.
Joe Warino, city manager, said planning and zoning commission members initially opposed the idea for a variety of reasons ranging from police department officials concern about distracted drivers to citizens who wanted to maintain the city’s historical look.
Mike Cook, zoning inspector, said as far as distractions go, the signs were not going to be spinning or flashing. In addition, none would be placed on the busy U.S. Route 224 to avoid any accidents caused by distraction in the highly congested area.
Other areas will be evaluated concerning how long the signs will move, how big they can be, and what kind of designs will be acceptable, Cook said.
Cook said the plan starts with proposing the idea to the planning and zoning commission – meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the Canfield City Building, 104 Lisbon St.
If the commission gives its approval, it will be brought before council.
If a decision is eventually reached in favor of the signs, Cook said various regulations can be made for them, including pricing and maintenance.
Warino said the signs would mainly be for schools, churches and larger businesses.
Cook said school officials from Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, 7300 N. Palmyra Road, have expressed interest in digitalizing a message board for the school.
Fortunato said the digital signs also would benefit city businesses by attracting attention.
If the proposal is approved, Fortunato said he predicts being able to work through the details over the course of a couple months and, hopefully, kick off the new signs by early summer.