The City of Mount Vernon is looking at an ordinance that will better spell out use of sandwich boards in uptown Mount Vernon.

At an unofficial meeting of Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission Saturday, Jan. 3 (the board did not have an official quorum), city planner Leigh Bradbury presented the rough draft of the ordinance she is exploring with the commission to make sure it aligns with their updated design guidelines.

The design guidelines for the commission noted that sandwich board signs, if they are allowed by city ordinance, have to be constructed out of wood or metal.

The ordinance will also be on the Planning and Zoning commission meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14 and the Mount Vernon City Council meeting Monday, Jan. 19.

Bradbury explained that there have been requests to allow sandwich boards in the uptown, and the city is looking at spelling out restrictions for said signs.

“It’s a problem we don’t see going away,” Bradbury said.

It also means the city needs to spell out what the ordinance will entail.

One of the challenges in uptown Mount Vernon is that the sidewalks can be very narrow.

“I’ll be looking at the aerial view of the uptown in the next few weeks to outline where sandwich boards can be located,” Bradbury said.

There has to be roughly 48 inches of clearance on the sidewalks, to allow for wheelchair access along many of the streets. With the trees and voids around trees, that spells out certain areas signs aren’t allowed.

“It’s something the city will have to enforce carefully to make sure everyone is in compliance,” Bradbury said.

Bradbury said anyone wanting to use a sandwich board for their business will have to apply under the signage ordinances of Mount Vernon. For many in the uptown historic district, that would require going before Historic Preservation Commission as well.

Commission member Randy Brown asked if there’s any consideration of restricting signage during festivals and community events, noting the restrictive size of sidewalks during some of those events add additional hurdles to navigating sidewalks.

Bradbury said it is a discussion item that planning and zoning will look at.

Signs would be restricted to being located outside of the business they pertain to.

Brown said the commission is trying to balance practicality and what maintains a historic view of the uptown.

Business owners would be responsible for moving signs inside during inclement weather, and the signs have to be free standing (the use of items like sandbags to weigh them down will not be allowed).

Citizens and business owners are encouraged to provide feedback as this ordinance moves forward if they have concerns.