Kevin Goebel and a few of his coworkers recently received a ticket for violating the two hour parking rule in downtown Clarkston. “Where is the sign that tells me I can’t park here,” asked Goebel. No two-hour sign could be found nearby, but Clarkston City Manager Carol Eberhardt said the area, and most others downtown, is limited to two hours only. Photo by Andrea Beaudoin

Goodrich — Goodrich business owners who have signage concerns should make them known, says Goodrich Village Administrator Jakki Sidge.
A recent decision to ticket sign violators is a last-ditch resort to enforce safety and aesthetic issues, but the village is open to business owners’ needs. The ordinance, which was written in the late 1990s, has changed several times in response to local needs. Although village ordinances are essentially law and violations result in penalties, business owners can request changes through the zoning board of appeals, said Sidge.
The Village of Goodrich Zoning Ordinance, article 18: sign standards is a complicated 10-page document uniformly prohibiting signs which obstruct free access or egress from a building, lighted signs that could be confused for emergency vehicle or traffic signals lighting, signs that obstruct or impair motorists’ or pedestrians’ vision, signs with moving or animated parts, non-regulatory signs placed in a public right-of-way, attached to a utility pole or tree, and some portable signs.
Every business is permitted a sign; the type is regulated according to its location within one of five village zones: residential, central business district, office service district, general commercial district, or industrial district.
“I understand the reason for it, but I don’t always agree with it,” says downtown Cranberries Cafe owner Patty Plant, who says a previous conflict with the village was easily resolved. Plant would like to see the ordinance made more clear.
“Make it black and white so it’s not so complicated and you can understand it better,” she said.
Tom Gojcaj, owner of Tom’s Coney Cafe on State Road, says the large portable sign he had constructed was to advise customers when the cafe is open, since the neon sign in the window can’t be seen in direct sunlight.
“I didn’t do it to cause problems with anybody, especially the village. They’ve been nothing but good to me,” he said.
In Gojcaj’s case, frontage along the Goodrich Plaza means two pylon, or permanent signs could be erected, meaning more room for tenants to advertise, says Sidge.
“I don’t mean to sound antagonistic, but there have to be rules and regulations or it would look like it used to look. We’re always open to suggestions.”