EDC Proposes Zoning Changes to Help Business in Guilford
The Economic Development Commission (EDC) is proposing a zoning code amendment that would allow outside display of merchandise on a limited basis, according to EDC Chairman Steve Kops, who said the change would give businesses greater visibility.
Under the proposed amendment, business would be allowed to display one permitted item outside their store from the first weekend in April through Dec. 24 of each year and on holiday weekends.
Kops said this amendment will allow merchants to display their products in a tasteful way.
“If we didn’t have this, they would be limited to sidewalk sale days,” he said. “This would allow them for every weekend from beginning of April though Christmas and holiday weekends, they can display one item outside.”
Items that can be displayed outside would be regulated per the amendment, according to Kops. The amendment includes provisions such as requiring that the display immediately abut the building, and prohibiting clothing racks.
“It is limited in what they can do and how they can do it, but now at least they can get something outside,” he said. “They can’t have a rack. They can put an item so they could dress up a mannequin or something like that. Something that would be different but tasteful—that is what we were aiming for.”
The amendment to the code existed last year for a trial period and Kops said it was successful. He hopes the amendment will be made permanent this year.
“We don’t want to have to go back every year and we think the trial worked,” he said. “We wanted to take [the amendment] further and say, ‘Well, you can put a balloon or put something on the item to attract more attention,’ but the feeling was that was too much, so we took it out.”
Kops said he hopes the amendment will benefit businesses, and provide for easier enforcement of outdoor displays.
“It has to be enforceable and it has to be able to be understood,” he said of the amendment.
The Planning & Zoning Commission will hold its first public hearing on the issue on Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
