The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission continued work on a resolution about the proposed digital banners being explored with the new IntelliStreets light poles planned for uptown Mount Vernon.
Commission member Duane Eash had made a trip to Platteville, Wis., to look at some of the lights and signs provided in September.
Eash really disliked the way the digital banners in that uptown switch from multiple messages in a period of time.
“The way those banners are positioned, they seem to more be visible to pedestrians walking those streets, not those on the roadway,” Eash said.
As well, because many of the lights in that community were not new, but retrofitted to add some of the capabilities, some of those elements clash with the downtown.
Eash said that most of them are noticeable as digital signage when you are looking at them.
Eash said he was worried if these were rolled out in Mount Vernon, it would change the vibe of the historic nature of the downtown.
Commission member Guy Booth said that the commission’s purview is protecting the historic nature of the historic downtown business district, and that these digital banners would do just that.
“We don’t want to come across as someone who fights all modern conventions, and we can agree that the other elements of these light poles are hugely beneficial to the city,” Booth said. “But we also are trying to protect the work that has went into keeping this historic district the gem it is in our community.”
Eash asked if a business were to come to the commission with a lighted sign like the ones proposed for the digital banners, would that be something the commission would allow.
President Sue Astley said that would most likely come into conflicts with zoning ordinance for the uptown business district. Astley said the commission should highlight what their concerns are, especially when it comes to guidance from the Department of the Interior on signage.
The commission is looking to have the signage limited to areas outside the historic district, or barring that have guidelines that establish the signs displayed are similar to the cloth banners that are on display and not have any commercial or changing signage reminiscent of advertising. There are concerns yet with the illumination of signs in the uptown historic district as well.
The commission’s work on the resolution will continue at November’s meeting.
Recognition of historic achievements tabled to 2026
A possible spring ceremony recognizing accomplishments of historic preservation is being tabled until 2026.
Sue Astley, commission president, said that the commission will likely need to hold two community gatherings in their process of guidelines being changed.
“That’s already going to be drawing in a large part of the community to see what we’re doing,” Astley said. “Those meetings haven’t been fully budgeted for, and we should keep a portion of our budget for advertising and hosting those meetings.”
As well, the time commitment for the review process is going to keep the commission busy this spring and early next fall until those are finalized. Astley recommended moving that meeting to 2026. Commission member Randy Brown agreed, noting that would also be a way to highlight to the community projects that adhere to the new guidelines that were accomplished.