Sandwich board signs allowed throughout Arlington Hts.

Businesses throughout Arlington Heights will soon be allowed to use sandwich board signs to advertise outside their shops, a practice that has been legal in the downtown area since May.

Before the change in village code, several businesses were already displaying outdoor sandwich signs on nearby sidewalks or grassy areas, but with the village amendment approved by the village board on Monday, those signs are now legal.

The change comes after months of study from the village's design commission and provides another way for businesses to advertise specials and deals, said Charles Perkins, director of planning and community development. However, one of the design commission's suggestions - to ban plastic signs in the downtown - will not be implemented.

"We want to add a nice downtown character - we want it to complement the buildings we have downtown," said Trustee Mike Sidor.

But, several trustees were concerned with enforcement and the confusion of implementing a ban in the downtown months after the signs were first allowed.

"We just implemented this. Now, we're going to tell people who purchased a sign that they can have a sign, but not that plastic sign they bought?" said Trustee John Scaletta. "I think we're getting into an area where we are trying to micromanage the branding of an individual store."

Perkins admitted it would be difficult to enforce the plastic regulation communitywide.

Because of those concerns, the new code language will "discourage" plastic signs around Arlington Heights, but not ban them.

Perkins said the village wants sandwich board signs to have a professional branded message and be placed in a way that doesn't block walkways or create a safety hazard. The village did a survey of nine surrounding communities and found only two - Deer Park and Rolling Meadows - prohibit them completely

Downtown businesses must follow an application and permitting process because the signs are being placed on public rights of way, Perkins said.

Businesses in the rest of the village will not need to get a permit and the ordinance will be enforced through complaints or police observation of violations, he said.