DAPHNE, Alabama—Council chambers were packed Monday as the City Council, in a joint session with the Planning Commission, heard arguments in a public hearing regarding the current sign ordinance and what changes citizens thought should be made.

The council and commission are reviewing the sign ordinance to see what improvements can be made, if any. Citizens and business owners took to the podium to talk about why the sign ordinance should be or shouldn’t be changed.

“We need to do some things for the small businesses and the things that make Daphne unique and the local content that they can bring to this economy,” business owner Kevin Spriggs said. “If a car dealer on the weekend wants to put a balloon on his cars, then he should be able to. That’s common sense.”

Franklin Lamb, a 22-year resident and a member of the board of zoning adjustments, disagrees. Do big signs make a difference?

“I don’t think I’ve ever found that I couldn’t find a place to sleep, couldn’t find a merchant that would sell me something, couldn’t find a place to eat without a very large sign telling me this is where I need to go,” Lamb said.

Council President Ron Scott asked Community Development Director and Zoning Administrator Adrienne Jones to put together some recommendations based on what was heard at the hearing. Jones said she will take those recommendations to the commission, which will review and devise a formal recommendation to the council. After that, another public hearing will be held for the public to review the proposed changes before it goes before the council.

A proposed amendment will go to the council where it will then most likely be reviewed in another public hearing. After the last public hearing, the council will adopt, modify or reject the amendment.

“I’d like to see a committee formed. I’ve heard that several times from several people,” Councilwoman Tommie Conaway said. “The committee can then work with both residents and business owners to find solutions that work for everyone.”

Also being looked at is an amendment developed in 2011 for signs on the interstate. The amendment was put before the council in 2011, but failed to get enough votes to be brought to a public hearing. Scott brought the ordinance back up for the new council to review. A public hearing on that amendment has not been set yet.

Willie Robison, a member of the board of zoning adjustments, said that having been on both sides of the signage issue, he understands both arguments.

“I don’t want Highway 98 to look like Airport Boulevard in Mobile with large gaudy signs all over the place,” Robison said. “However, I am not opposed to some informational signs that are both aesthetically pleasing and gives out the information needed to let people know where they are.”