THE ISSUE
Downers Grove officials have been slow to consider making changes to a sign ordinance passed in 2005.

OUR VIEW
Amending the ordinance would help some businesses, so the village should make this issue a priority.

SPEAK UP
Should members of the Downers Grove Village Council amend the town’s sign ordinance? Tell us what you think of this by leaving a comment below. You can also e-mail your comment here. Or leave a voice message at (630) 368-8882.

For the past few months, the Downers Grove Village Council has moving at a snail’s pace on calls to reconsider its sign ordinance approved in 2005.

The ordinance’s goal was to make business signage in the village more aesthetically pleasing by banning the tall, oversized signs atop poles. The ordinance calls for monument-style signs instead; merchants have three more years to comply with the ordinance.

The Downers Grove Economic Development Corp. filed a petition with the village in September to have the ordinance amended. Automobile dealers want the ordinance to allow monument signs that are 15 feet in height rather than 10 and are 60 square feet in size rather than 36.

Auto dealers believe the sign ordinance as it stands now will hurt them even more given the weak economy. They make a valid point; one worth examining.

But village officials have been slow in moving on this issue, and they’ve got to make this a priority. Michael Binstein, owner of Binny’s Beverage Depot, declined to pursue a deal to lease the site of the now-closed Circuit City at Highland Avenue and Butterfield Road because he didn’t think the sign ordinance would accommodate his business.

Granted, the plan for Binny’s Beverage Depot to acquire Sam’s Wine and Spirits nullified the opportunity for Binstein to use the Circuit City property. But before this deal was announced last month, Binstein had allowed a letter of intent to lease the space to lapse because he believed the sign ordinance would be an obstacle.

While the economy has exhibited some modest growth recently, it will be awhile before many local businesses see a substantial increase in commercial activity. Anything that would give merchants an advantage in promoting their services would benefit the village as a whole as well as these businesses individually.

At its Monday meeting, the Downers Grove Plan Commission recommended a proposed amendment to the sign ordinance as it pertains to automobile dealerships and shopping centers. The Village Council should finally take up this issue and resolve it so merchants will know what sign limitations they’ll face.