Residents upset over Northwood's sign law - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Residents upset over Northwood's sign law

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Carl Genson was surprised to get a letter mid-September asking him to remove his church sign.  He says other signs advertising graduations, politicians and events line Northwood neighborhood streets, so he didn't expect a problem.

"That angered me, because I thought I own this property; if I want to put a sign in my yard, I should be able to put a sign in my yard," says Genson calmly.  "It's not anything slanderous. It's just a sign promoting our church."

But under his municipality's zoning law, it has to go.  Genson's letter from the zoning inspector states temporary signs are not permitted. Political, yard sale, permit and sale signs are all approved, and some leaders think that should be expanded.

"People are getting citations for church signs,  benefit signs, graduations signs, people are being made to take them down," says Michael Myers, a Northwood council member.  "And I think that's something we're going to have to address and look into."

On Thursday night, the city council sent the issue to the city's planning committee to hopefully come up with more options for residents.   Genson is leaving his sign up, but closer to his home.  He hopes the zoning law can be specified and expanded, so that signs like his church sign can stay up at his home.

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