Sign, Sign, Everywhere a sign.

Is Visual Pollution Hurting Malvern's Appearance?

Back in 1971, the Five Man Electrical Band had a hit record called Signs. Its opening words were unforgettable: "Sign, sign, everywhere a sign."

More than fifty years later, those words could almost describe a drive through Malvern.

Signs are everywhere. Some are attractive and professionally designed. Others are faded, deteriorating, poorly positioned, or simply unnecessary. There are banners, portable signs,stuck into-the-ground signs, and signs competing with other signs for our attention.

Then there are those tall, empty pole signs standing along our commercial streets. You know the ones. The business names have disappeared, leaving behind empty metal frames and weathered structures advertising absolutely nothing.

Collectively, these things contribute to something urban planners call visual pollution.

And Malvern has more than its share.

When Empty Signs Tell a Story

Perhaps the most discouraging examples are the abandoned pole signs scattered around town.

At one time, many of them displayed the names of businesses that employed local people, collected sales taxes, and contributed to our economy. Today, some of those businesses are gone, but their empty signs remain.

They're reminders of commercial vacancies, lost businesses, and the economic challenges our community has experienced over the years.

Unfortunately, leaving the signs standing doesn't help us move forward. Instead, they become permanent reminders of what used to be there.

Imagine someone considering opening a business in Malvern. What impression do we make when that person drives through town and sees empty sign frames, abandoned commercial properties, and deteriorating advertisements?

We want prospective investors to see opportunity, not neglect.

When Advertising Becomes Clutter

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a business wanting to attract customers. Good signage is essential to commerce.

But there's a difference between effective advertising and clutter.

A professionally designed sign identifies a business and helps customers find it. An assortment of competing banners, temporary advertisements, mismatched displays, and oversized signs can accomplish just the opposite.

When everything is competing for attention, nothing stands out.

The appearance of our commercial corridors matters just as much as the appearance of our neighborhoods. Businesses invest money in their buildings, landscaping, parking areas, and storefronts. Those investments can be diminished when surrounding properties are allowed to become visually cluttered.

This isn't about making every business look alike. It's about establishing reasonable standards that create a more attractive and welcoming community.

Do Our Sign Ordinances Need Updating?

The condition of our commercial corridors raises an important question:

Are our existing sign regulations sufficiently comprehensive, and are they being consistently enforced?

Some signs may violate existing requirements. Others may be technically permissible while still contributing to an unattractive streetscape.

That's where a stronger, modernized sign ordinance could make a difference.

A comprehensive ordinance should establish clear standards for the size, height, location, installation, and maintenance of commercial signage.

It should also address one of our most visible problems: abandoned signs.

When a business permanently closes, there should be a short period for removing its advertising and, where appropriate, the unused sign structure itself. An empty metal frame shouldn't be allowed to stand indefinitely rusting away simply because nobody has taken responsibility for removing it.

Temporary signs should have reasonable display periods. Many Arkansas cities do. Damaged or deteriorating signs should be repaired or removed. Portable signs should be appropriately located, and advertising shouldn't obstruct motorists' visibility or create unnecessary distractions.

Existing businesses should also be given reasonable opportunities to comply with updated standards.

These aren't unreasonable expectations. They're basic elements of maintaining an attractive commercial environment.

A Better Appearance Is Everybody's Business. Remove the clutter.

Improving Malvern's appearance doesn't have to begin with another expensive construction project.

Sometimes it begins by removing what no longer belongs.

An abandoned sign taken down. A faded banner replaced. An unnecessary advertising display removed. A commercial property cleaned up.

Individually, these improvements may seem insignificant. Collectively, they can transform the appearance of an entire commercial corridor.

Business owners have a responsibility to maintain their properties, but city government also has a responsibility to establish reasonable standards and enforce them fairly and consistently.

Neither can accomplish the job alone.

And let's remember that a stronger sign ordinance isn't intended to discourage businesses from advertising. Quite the contrary. An attractive commercial district along our highways provides a better environment for everybody doing business there.

What Kind of Message Are We Sending?

We've discussed Malvern's need for new housing, better-paying jobs, economic development, and private investment in previous blogs.

But there's another important part of that equation: making our community look like a place where people want to live, shop, and invest.

We cannot expect prospective residents and business owners to recognize Malvern's potential if we aren't willing to improve what they see when they arrive.

A review and modernization of our sign regulations would be a practical place to begin. So would a renewed commitment to enforcing the regulations already on the books.

We don't need to eliminate signs. We need to eliminate unnecessary clutter, remove abandoned sign structures, and establish reasonable standards for the future.

After all, a city's appearance sends a message about the community.

Let's make sure Malvern is sending the right one.