10 businesses issued warning letters for banner sign violations

Ten business establishments were issued warning letters yesterday for banner signs that violate the Saipan Zoning Law, but one of the business owners said he will contest the warning letter given to his club.

Zoning administrator Steve Tilley, in an interview at his office, said the initial inspections conducted yesterday morning resulted in the issuance of 10 warning letters to businesses in Dandan, As Lito and Koblerville.

More inspections will follow as the grace period for complying with the law passed on Jan. 31.

“If these businesses still don’t comply, then we’ll issue fines of up to $1,000,” Tilley said, adding that the follow-up inspections will be in the next few days.

Robert Russell, owner of Club Mr. Wonderful in As Lito, said he will contest the warning letter issued to his establishment, saying the law “is killing small businesses” that rely on banners placed on business windows and facilities, instead of placing advertisements in the newspaper, radio or television.

He said having tinted windows instead of advertisements will make it harder for mom-and-pop stores and other small businesses to attract more customers.

“It’s being handled to a point where the interpretation of the law depends on one person and I believe there’s only one board member…It’s being interpreted in a manner that is against all businesses,” Russell said.

His club was issued a warning letter for a banner sign of “Super Bowl” that advertises a beer product.

“I only had five customers for Super Bowl this morning. Two of them came in just because they saw the sign…For small businesses that earn only $50 to $200 a day, a fine of up to $1,000 a day is going to force us out of business,” said Russell, who also owns a retail store in San Antonio and Wonderful Motel in As Lito.

He said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial should now appoint members to the Saipan Zoning board so that zoning decisions won’t have to come from one or two people.

Besides Club Mr. Wonderful, other businesses issued a warning letter on the first day of the inspections included Shell Dandan Station, an apartment for rent, a car rental and a mom and pop store.

Successful

In a separate statement yesterday, Tilley said the banner sign cleanup on Saipan has been “a great success.”

Retailers and others using banner signs were given until Feb. 1 to remove nonconforming signs.

“We’re very pleased by what we don’t see. Not only have many nonconforming banner signs been removed but store owners have also cleaned old stickers and other signs from their windows. The public is telling us that the shops look much neater in the last week since the signs came down,” Tilley said.

The Zoning Office will be conducting surveys this week to identify remaining nonconforming banners.

The deadline for removing banner signs that don’t comply with the Saipan Zoning Law was on Oct. 30, 2008, but the Zoning Office gave a grace period of until Jan. 31, 2009.

Examples of banner signs that are prohibited includes a retail sales event banner sign that advertises a brand name product, contains a brand name, symbol or logo, or a product price.

Banner signs that advertise products are only allowed when they announce an event but then the advertising space will be restricted to 40 percent of the sign area. Banners will be required to include the installation date so the public and Zoning Office can easily see how long they have been up.

People with questions about sign requirements should contact the Zoning Office at 234-9661.