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Ravenna signs stir problems Walgreens, CVS go digital

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Colin McEwen
May 27, 2008

By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
One sign can cause a lot of problems.
The sign scheduled to be erected at the end of the parking lot at the incoming Walgreens Drug Store on East Main Street in Ravenna has some residents pushing away from a sign of the times "in the historic district.
The problem, residents say, is the digital sign breaks zoning code. They worry that if one business is allowed to bend the rules, other businesses will follow suit.
The Historic Design Review Committee allowed the sign at Walgreens in a 7-0 vote. When approached by CVS to have a similar sign, the committee passed the measure for that company's sign 4-3.
Lou Dudek is one of the residents upset with the new incoming signs in the historic neighborhood.
"I guess the people in the committee think the sign is OK," he said. "I don't think this is OK."
Dudek took his complaint to the city and found that CVS also was approved after they requested they be allowed to have a similar sign.
"There's just too much inconsistency," he said. "I don't understand " my personal feeling " it's an inappropriate sign to have in the this district."
The city's codified ordinance regarding city signage states that signs in the historic district "must be visually compatible."
The code also states the purpose of the design review commission is to "preserve the dignity and architectural significance of the Design Review District, preserve its scenic and natural beauty, and provide a more enjoyable and pleasing community for its residents."
Mayor Kevin Poland said the sign will stand on a brick structure consistent with the architecture of the building and does not believe it breaks the code.
"My understanding to the objection to the sign is the digital aspect, which is not historical," he said. "The commitment that was given is that it would be a continuous scroll, changing every few minutes."
Dudek said he is not convinced the sign meets any of the requirements. He said he was a member of the Historic Design Review Committee nine years ago, and he would not have allowed the Walgreens sign.
"I'm a citizen and I expect the city to uphold its rules and regulations like everybody else does," he said. "How are they going to say no to everyone who is now going to want one? It's not fair to the other merchants who follow the guidelines."




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Previous 10 Comments    of 34 Total Comments
4.
    Posted by s.swenson May 27, 2008
Eventually either Walgreens or CVS will be sitting empty so we'll only have to worry about one flashing sign.

How come the newspaper didn't tell us who was on this Historical Review Committee?

As far as these two places bringing jobs to Ravenna, c'mon neither place will have more than a couple of full time employees with benefits the rest will all be part timers who receive no health insurance or long term benefits. People looking for jobs to support families are not flocking to their doors to fill out applications.

Walgreens practically sits in the middle of Main Street do they really need a blinking sign as well. How come Walgreens was approved 7-0 and CVS only 4-3. It should have been 0-7 on them both.

Since the scrolling sign sits atop a brick structure matching the building it doesn't break the code, what's up with the mayor saying that? I can't even begin to make sense of that statement.

Ravenna is so worried about the last person standing leaving the lights on that maybe they think the scrolling lights may attract inhabitants from another planet once everyone leaves for good.

I love how they treat the big corps with special favors but not the little local run places. Now we have just set precedent that all the businesses left along Main can begin installing these as well. How can they allow 2 but not all of them?

At leasst topless places aren't allowed in town could you imagine the scrolling sign they'd have, maybe a pawn shop with a sign advertising guns, tv's and miscellaneous. I think it's good that Mr. Dudek is voicing his opinion.

3.
    Posted by ravenna-rootstown-kent May 27, 2008
thats it someone trying to bring jobs to the area so lets make it harder on them. the historic area??what were the same crack heads robbing people here 100 years ago? ravenna is dying, more crime, crooked politicians, jobs leaving daily. and your going to gripe at these people over a sign? get real i would rather have flashing signs and people with jobs than no sign, no jobs and another empty business in ravenna

2.
    Posted by Enough May 27, 2008
I would think with the loss of businees and jobs in this area, everyone would agree this sign is a good compromise to get these reputable businesses in town and keep them. Yes, in a perfect world, we would still have the neighborhood drug store that knows us personally and even delivers and checks on it's customers. Unfortunately, those days are long gone (we created that by shopping the big box stores), so we all must live with what we have created. I would so love to go back, but it's impossible at this point in time.

1.
    Posted by laserfaire May 27, 2008
Those flashing digital signs, like the one on Main Street out by Cotton Corners, and the two on 59 between Ravenna and Kent, are the ugliest things I've ever seen. I've gradually gotten used to them, but at first they were a bit blinding and distracting, and not easily ignored while you're driving past, as is the case with traditional signage. Of course, forcing you to look is the whole point of this annoying technology. I'm no longer liable to crash into a tree when I pass one (horses were said to panic at the sight of a "horseless carriage"), but they are still UGLY.

This is one of those inevitable trends that it is too late to stop, but perhaps we can at least keep these monstrosities out of the historical district. Go get 'em, Louie!

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