14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-New rules for downtown business owners

New rules for downtown business owners

By Jasmin Embers - bio | email
Posted by Noah Stubbs - email

OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE) - The Conders' never thought hanging a new sign over their coffee shop would turn into a nearly nine month process.

"We started February of 2009 and at that time we got together with the designer and he put together different drawings," Larry Conder said.

And after serving hot java for over a year now, the Conders wanted the shop to stick out.

"Many times while driving down second street you don't actually see the businesses by simply driving plus the speed you travel is usually 28 to 30 miles an hour so by the time you actually see the business you've already passed it," Larry Conder said.

Downtown Owensboro is divided into several character zones.

The Creme Coffee House falls under the historical core and owners had to meet certain guidelines before hanging the new sign.

"The design guidelines will assist us in ensuring consistency in the visual attractiveness and creativity of how things look downtown," Creme Coffee House owner Keith Free said.

The new guidelines are mandatory and only apply to the downtown master plan area.

"Which generally is between Crittenden to Sycamore from the River to 5th, then goes out Frederica Street to the railroad tracks," Free said. "That's where it applies outside those areas it doesn't apply."

The Conders also had to wait until the new ordinance went into effect on October 20 and the type of sign they chose had to get approved by the state since the shop technically sits on a highway.

"When you have a blade sign which is what that is, it's protruding from the front of the building it can only be a certain amount of square footage," Conder said. "And on October 21 we actually I got with Nathan Nunley who's the downtown administrator for the overlay itself and then went through the process of having the sign put up."

The city hopes the new guidelines will also spark more creativity in building designs as well as new business signs.

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