Last week the Plymouth Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance for a new pole-sign at 309 East Jefferson Street. Along with the variance was the requirement to immediately remove the current Ice Cream Parlor sign for Mooney’s that has been in violation. The April 7th BZA meeting requested the sign be removed by April 12th.
On Monday, April 13th, with the sign still in place, City Attorney Sean Surrisi hand delivered a Notice of Fines and Violation letter to Jon Webster, owner of Mooney’s. The letter indicated that Webster had been fined $150 for failing to remove the Ice Cream Parlor sign that was ordered removed in November 2014 and again at the April 7th meeting.
If the sign is removed by this Friday, April 17th at 10 a.m. the $150 fine will be waived, however, if the sign remains the fine will be due to the city on April 28th. If the sign continues to remain in place a complaint will be filed against Webster and Mooney’s seeking enforcement of the conditions imposed by the BZA. If the sign remains in place as of Saturday, April 18th the establishment will begin to be fined $150 per day until the sign is removed.
Jon Webster from Mooney’s only wants to keep the Ice Cream Parlor sign up until the new pole-sign approved at the April 7th meeting is ready for instillation. It was estimated that would be 60 days or less.
Webster fears that without a noticeable sign his business will be negatively affected because new customers won’t know he’s located in the building at 309 East Jefferson Street.
Webster noted that he opened his business in the early fall and shortly after the county had to close the Jefferson Street bridge for a number of weeks which had a devastating effect on his business. He also said, “We want to support the community that supports us and have contributed to every organization that’s walked in and asked.”
Checking into a temporary sign with a permit from the city was estimated to cost $400 a month to wit Webster said, “That’s a waste of money that I would be putting towards the new sign.” He also commented that if he had know the BZA would place this kind of stipulation on his business he would have attended the meeting, but his understanding was that the meeting was only to approve a variance for a pole-sign.
So who’s right and who’s wrong? We will talk about it on the What’s Your Opinion Show Thursday morning starting at 9.
