City of Grosse Pointe Council to Review Lighting Requirements for Businesses

While approving a request Monday for a new awning for the soon-to-be-expanded , the Grosse Pointe City Council's discussion turned to its sign and sign lighting ordinance and whether businesses are complying.

Treasure Trove, an antiques, consignment and estate sale business in the Village, is into the former Cavanaugh's. 

Treasure Trove's new 12-foot awning is tan on tan and will cover the vacant spot next door. Council unanimously approved a variance in the length of such awnings, which are normally restricted to 10-feet. But because it does not have lighting shining down on the sign Councilman G. John Stevens questioned whether the city should clarify or amend its design ordinance.

The ordinance forbids internally illuminated signs (like cell-phone company's brightly-colored, lighted signs) and states that if lighting is used it be external such as gooseneck decorative light fixtures. 

However, Stevens said he believes the intent of the design ordinance was to require external lights and make the Village storefronts more attractive, not just encourage them.

Considering that most, if not all, awning and sign requests are coming with no plans for lighting, he said the ordinance needs to be revisited.

"The slippery slope was if you have no lighting you don't have to comply," Stevens said. "We were saying originally that there should be lighting. That was the intent."

John Jackson, city planner, said the ordinance will be reviewed and brought back to the council to determine if an amendment is needed or stronger enforcement in order.

Stevens said it's time to make it clear.

"We go over this over and over again and we see nothing really happening," Stevens said. 

Jackson said the city has tried in vain over the years to convince the building owner, where Treasure Trove leases, to make improvements such as uniform facades and lighting. The Treasure Trove expansion, while not bringing lighting, helps accomplish that goal with its new awning, Jackson said.

With its hodgepodge of signs and storefronts, "this building has been a challenge since day one," Jackson said. 

He said for some businesses the lack of lighting or other improvements is about cost. He described a dry cleaner that doesn't' even want to pay for a sign.

"If someone can't afford to put up a sign," Stevens said, "maybe we need to look for a different business."

He said the city should give "guidance to our retailers. I think our retailers need advice on some of these issues."