A complaint filed with the building inspector about Little League signs displayed at Gifford Park in Rochester brought the Old Rochester Little League before the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals May 28 for an amendment to the original 1993 special permit allowing the signs.
The board did vote to amend the signs, but only after some discussion with abutters who said they had negative experiences with the signs that have hung during months when they were prohibited, with some blowing into neighboring yards.
Paul Moore, who lives beside the field on Mary’s Pond Road, said all signs currently at the field are not painted green on the back like the special permit requires, and some are even lying on the ground.
“They just blow around,” said Moore. “They sit in the dirt.”
The signs – paid for by advertisers that support the league – are displayed along two of the ball fields facing the interior ball field fence so as to remain unseen from the road. The 1993 special permit required the backs be painted green with advertisements facing infield, limited to 42 signs no larger than 32 feet by 48 feet, and only displayed from April 15 to August 7.
“The fact that the signs are not being well maintained is beyond the scope of what we’re trying to do this evening,” said ZBA member Kirby Gilmore. Other than the number and size of, and the time frame for displaying the signs, “We don’t have any control…”
Abutter Karen Audet said she has found some of the signs in her yard, especially over the winter with the storms.
“I’ve never complained, but I’ve just put them back in the fields,” said Audet, recommending the league take the signs down every year when the season ends. “That way they won’t blow all over the place.”
Altogether, there is currently 930 square feet of signage at the field.
“Green Monster,” said ZBA Chairman Richard Cutler.
Representing the ORLL, Dave Nelson, secretary for the league, said the league was seeking to increase the period of time signs could be displayed, making it April 1 to November 15, since the league added a fall baseball season. Nelson said he was also seeking to increase the maximum total of signs from 42 to 62 so that more sponsors could support the league.
“Sign display is a major source of revenue for our league,” said Nelson. It keeps registration costs down, he said.
The board agreed to the requested amended changes, but emphasized that as per the original special permit, sign backs need to be painted green and taken down after the baseball season is finished.
The next meeting of the Rochester Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled for June 11 at 7:00 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
By Jean Perry
