Though local zoning regulations explicitly prohibit them, sandwich boards are appearing in front of an increasing number of businesses downtown, prompting planning officials to open a public discussion on the matter.
Under Section 6.3.F.7 of the New Canaan Zoning Regulations (page 118 here), “sandwich board and easel type signs” are prohibited.
Many business owners say sandwich boards are important to their bottom lines. Prohibited outright by Zoning Regulations, sandwich boards can vary widely in style. P&Z officials are opening the question now whether a controlled allowance is feasible and in New Canaan’s best interests. Credit: Michael Dinan
Yet members of the Planning & Zoning Commission “clearly have noticed a dramatic increase in sandwich boards in the past year or so” and will take up the issue at its Feb. 24 meeting, Chairman John Goodwin said.
“It is something that we [P&Z members] have said we need to discuss, and personally I do not have a clear view yet of whether my view would be, ‘Look it is an ordinance and we’ve got to prohibit them’ because, on the other hand, we want to do everything possible in town to help businesses, and I am a very strong advocate of that.”
It isn’t clear whether Goodwin and P&Z will seek wider public input on sandwich boards during the group’s regular meeting. P&Z will hear from New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tucker Murphy.
Asked about the A-frame signs, Murphy said she’s heard feedback from several merchants who support the option for a controlled, sensibly styled sandwich board sign within definitive parameters.
“I do think that if we can work out some parameters that will work with everybody and it can be a help” to business,” Murphy said. “I have also talked to a lot of people on the streets and they’ve said they don’t have a problem with them [the signs] as long as they’re not out of control.”
Goodwin underscored that P&Z as a group has broached the subject of sandwich boards downtown—a matter brought up by commissioners including former Sign Committee Chair Jean Grzelecki and her successor in the role, Elizabeth DeLuca—and decided as a group that questions of whether and in what capacity they could be allowed merits vetting.