Cape approves larger signs for Route 77

CAPE ELIZABETH — At its most recent meeting, the Cape Elizabeth Town Council unanimously approved larger business signs along the residential areas of Route 77, in a vote that also turned into a lesson for its newest member, Jamie Wagner.

Wager abstained from the decision, noting when questioned that he owns two businesses along Route 77 – his own law office and The Local Buzz, a café and coffee bar. Chairman James Walsh quickly consulted Town Manager Michael McGovern, who said the town charter compels each councilor to vote absent of a real or perceived conflict of interest. When a conflict does exist, McGovern said, it is proper for it to be raised before debate begins on a topic, rather than after the vote is conducted.

“My view is, I don’t see that this creates a conflict,” said Councilor David Sherman.

However, Councilor Jessica Sullivan deemed it “an issue” that Wagner participated in debate before indicting that he might have a conflict of interest.

Wagner then withdrew his abstention and logged a yes vote for the sign change. By not voting on whether it thought Wagner had a true conflict of interest and then re-voting on the ordinance, the council seemed to indicate alignment with Sherman’s reasoning, that having signs of his own along the Route 77 business district is not reason enough to keep Wagner from voting on sign changes in the artery’s residential zone.

In the end McGovern took responsibility for the moment of confusion.

“We haven’t actually done an official orientation yet for Jamie,” he said.

“Consider this the first class,” joked Walsh.

The amendment allows business in residential zones to have a roadside sign measuring 20 square feet, if they have frontage on Route 77. The previous maximum area allowed was 6 square feet.

Town Planner Maureen O’Meara said the change only affects four businesses grandfathered to exist in the residential zone, and two of them already have the larger signs. Presumably, she said, those larger signs also existed before the previous limit was set.

The change was made at the request of Dr. Ginger Browne Johnson, who in July bought The Veterinary Center of Cape Elizabeth, located at 207 Ocean House Road, from Dr. Lynda Bond. Browne Johnson said she wanted a larger sign to accommodate a longer business name – The Veterinary and Rehabilitation Center of Cape Elizabeth

The only person to oppose the change was neighbor Chris Bond, who founded the center with his wife in 1983.

“To me, a sign that’s in a residential community has to give deference to the residential purpose of that community,” he said, stumping to lock in the previous sign limits. ”I’ll say, we never lost a client because they couldn’t find us, and that includes the days before cell phones, Internet maps and GPS.

“A sign that is 5 square feet is adequate to say, ‘You’ve found the right place,” said Bond. “If we keep the sign to a size that’s not screaming for attention, it will serve a perfectly adequate function.”

But Bowne Johnson held a different view.

“I just had my 20^th reunion at Cape High School,” she said. “When I told my friends there I bought the hospital they said, ‘There’s a vet hospital on Route77?’ So, there is a visibility problem.”

O’Meara said the sign change, “is a direct correlation to speed on Route 77.”

“As you’re driving faster you’re not seeing as much, so you might want a little larger sign,” she said, calling the change an issue of “fairness,” between Route 77 businesses in different zoning areas that already allowed larger signs.

“You want to treat like groups in an even-handed manner,” she said.

The council also voted unanimously to allow temporary signs at Plaisted Park, across from the entrance to Fort Williams. Little League officials again asked for the signs, last considered and rejected by the council in 2005, in hopes of attracting more fans, thereby increasing revenue.

The signs, similar to ones allowed at Cape Little League’s Lions Field since 1997, will be on display only during ball season, from May to June.