Officials respond to negative public reaction to Glen Arbor sign

Photo by Dianne Nichols

By Linda Alice Dewey

Sun contributor

Since the sign went up in early August, the overall reaction has been unfavorable. One objection is that it is too big, yet Gretzema points out that the digital portion matches the size of the old yellow trailer sign. That said, there are two signs now rather than just one that’s back-to-back, like the old sign, which doubles the impact of the trailer sign.

Linda Young, who has sat on committees and boards of several local nonprofits, likes the idea but not necessarily the finished product. “I was glad to hear about the possibility of the electronic sign and, like others, supported the idea for improved signage for township events,” said Young. “However, I was surprised to see the sign as installed. It is larger than expected, the graphics jarring, and an unfortunate early graphic—actually an advertisement for the media company—made for a very poor early impression with many in the community.”

“We were just experimenting,” explains Gretzema of the flashing and scrolling colors that greeted Glen Arbor at first. “It’s all programmable. We have some adjustments to make to it, that’s for sure.” Since then, the graphics have calmed to a few messages that change over longer periods of time.

Patricia Widmayer is also concerned. “I feel like I’d like to understand what the variables were, to make a decision that it had to be that big and that it was permanent, as opposed to mobile,” she says. “There have to be some variables in there to consider. I’m withholding judgement. I’m overall really pleased.”

Others are not; the objections poured in.

“The only thing I can say at this point,” Van Nort responded two weeks after the sign went up, “is that sign has the ultimate capability of creativity. We need to understand the specific [issues] the people have about the sign. The sign is there. How do we use it is the question.”

The board created an opportunity to hear those issues at their next meeting which took place Aug. 21. The hour-long public comment session at the front of the meeting kicked off with the presentation of a petition signed by 120 unhappy tax payers who disapprove of the size, cost, and design, followed by several who described their initial shock upon seeing the sign. Some voiced fears of a “slippery slope” to commercialization.

Several speakers were concerned that the sign violates the township ordinance, which prohibits large signs, flashing/moving lights, and illumination beyond the property line. In response, Van Nort assured citizens that Tim Cypher, the zoning administrator who was absent from the meeting, had been consulted and said the sign did not violate the ordinance.

TheSunreached Cypher the morning after the meeting. He said he would not comment at this time on this ongoing controversy. He did, however, refer to Article X of the zoning ordinance which states, “Any and all institutions … public lands, grounds or areas now under the ownership or control of federal, state, or local governmental authorities including the Township of Glen Arbor shall so remain and shall not be regulated by this ordinance.”

In other words, governmental property is exempt from regulation.

One citizen at the meeting said the sign hardly fit the charm of Glen Arbor; the audience spoke out its support to the comment. Previously, a member of the Facebook “Glen Arbor” group similarly declared the sign hardly fits the quaint and cozy Glen Arbor feeling.

In a phone interview, Van Nort’s response was tinged with irony. “Is Glen Arbor cozy and quaint?” he asked with a chuckle, then noted the current crowd of visitors and upcoming events announced on the sign.

Some at the meeting questioned the need for such a large sign, noting that it hides the township hall sign. “I think we could have done a better job of lowering it a little bit,” Gretzema admitted in an earlier interview. “I agree that the sign, now that it’s up, is a little out of scale for the building.”

Jackie Oleson brought up the safety issue, with its location in such a congested area. Potential solutions posited at the meeting included placing several small “artsy” kiosks around town, more bulletin board space, or a more high-tech sign that is less pixilated which might even look like a painting.

Another citizen asked if the sign was to benefit the organizations or the tax payers.

There was criticism of the way that the decision was made without consulting artists or the community in general. Communication quickly became a general theme, including more than one mention of the lack of current minutes and announcements on the township’s website. Clerk Bonnie Quick noted that the minutes are posted in the Leelanau Enterprise (the county’s paper of record), and the board responded they are transitioning website managers. One citizen suggested using social media and email to announce events and meetings; Cindy Warnes, who works at the Post Office, noted that meeting announcements are “diligently” posted there.

A speaker asked if there had been any positive response, and Van Nort answered that there was. When asked how much, because everyone at the meeting seemed against it, Van Nort indicated that the numbers in favor matched the number at the meeting. “Where are they?” the commenter asked. Later, Van Nort said that he heard at least five or six at the Earth, Wind & Fire concert at Interlochen.

Several attendees called for the sign to come down and wondered if it could be sold, even if it was for only 50 percent of its original value. It was agreed that it probably could bring at least that amount.

Linda Young has a several thoughts on the matter. “I encourage constructive dialogue between community members and the township board to together to try to solve this issue,” she says. To the community, she warns, “Let’s not reject the idea of informational signage because it ‘isn’t Glen Arbor.’ That attitude opposed installing sidewalks, the construction of Glen Arbor Garden and the wonderful new park design. All have become community assets. There is a wealth of good examples of appropriate signage,” she remarks. “Surely we can do better.”

Van Nort says the board will discuss this feedback and come up with a plan that it will bring to the community. The question came up on how that meeting time will be communicated.

Perhaps they’ll post it on the sign.