Minutes 10/26/1926 - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 26, 1926 The following communication was read from the Portsmouth 0hamber of 0ommerce: ."Portsmouth, Virginia, October 26, 1926. Hon. City 0ounoil, Portsmouth, ~Va. Gentlemen:~ As you may know, the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Merchauts Association, is conductimg a campaigm for the purpose of having the merchants electric sig~s at their various places cf business for two reasons: Retail install Such illuminated advertising will tend greatly towa~rds increasing the 'local retail business. 2. It will also give Portsmouth the metropolitan appearance which it deserves. The campaign is progressing verylsatisfactorily, but in several cases where met- cheap, ts want to erect large, beautiful and brilliant signs, they are handicapped by the present ordmnauce which provides that no eig~ shall extend more than five feet from the building line. In many of the progressive cities t~roughout the oo~utry this has been considered an injustice to the merchants who want to adequately advertisetheir business by electric signs because a sign extending seven, eight or even ten feet beyond the building line can be made just as secure and fast as a sign extending only five feet or less. In the Norfolk Building Code we find this and this only in regard to electric signs: SE0. ltl1. ELEOTRI0 SIGNS. Electric signs shall be constructed ef incombustible materials; a~nd the lettering and devices on such signs s~hall be of metal, porcelain, or some vitreous material. SE0. ~212. SIGNS- HOW ATTACHED TO BUILDING All signs, except banner signs, placed upon or attached to any building, shall be secure~and firmly attached 'thereto by i~on anchors, bolts through the wall, chains, guys or braces; and all such metal supports sh~l~be thorough painted before being placed in position. No swining signs, except temporar~ banner signs, shall be used. SEO. 1213. DANGEROUS SIGNS, ET0. All signs which, im the judgement of the Building Inspector, are ~augerous Lu any manner whatever ~hall be taken down,~repaired o~ made safe in such manner as the Building In- specter may direct. It is only fair that the Portsmouth merchants be given the same opportunity to adequately advertise in this brilliant and perfectly legitimate manner as are the merchants in Norfolk a~d other large cities throughout the coumtry. Oonsequently, we respectfully ask tha~ the presen~ ordinance be repealed and that a new ordinance be passed, leaving this pazti- cular matter to the discretion of the City Manager and Building Inspector, As o~r campaign is now in full swir~g and in order that complete assurances may be given to-those mezchants who are now ready to purchase signs, we respectfully ask that you consider this an emergency measure and give ii favorable action at your meeting tonight. Very respectfully yours, W. L. Bennett, President. George H. 01ess, Jr., Executive Secretary." Mr. Maupin presented t~e following ordinance in this connection: An Ordinance to Amend and Re-ordain Section 166 Relating to the Erection cf Electric Signs, of an Ordinance entitled ~A~ Ordinance to Regulate and 0ontrol the Building in the Corporate Limits of the City of Portsmouth, Vao, ~nd known as the Buildir~ 0ode. On motion, the ordinance was placed on i~s.first re~ding, On motion, adjourned.