An LED sign is sitting unopened in a Board of Education warehouse while Norwalk High School parents and Norwalk's Planning and Zoning Commission battle over whether the sign can actually be installed or not.
The Zoning Commission heard public comments Wednesday night about the marquee sign that was bought for $68,000. Parents raised money to buy the sign through fundraisers and want to install it near the corner of Strawberry Hill Ave and County St., in front of the American Legion. The issue is before the Zoning Commission because these types of signs currently cannot be installed in residential neighborhoods without amending the zoning regulations.
The Norwalk High Marquee Project web site explains the sign. Parents bought the sign before formal approval because they thought that they had received assurances from city officials there would not be difficulties. Obviously they were wrong.
According to The Hour 20 people, including many public officials, spoke in favor of the sign at the public hearing. In addition, several petitions with hundreds of signatures were presented. Two neighborhood residents spoke out against it calling it unnecessary and obstructive.
I had a chance to speak to Sharon Cadden, a member of the NHS marquee committee. She told me that the sign is 2 feet high and 8 feet wide supported by a structure that's 5 feet high by 9 feet wide. The purpose of the sign is to improve communications between the school and parents because not everyone reads the announcements that are sent home. The sign would also be used to remind students about events. The sign won't flash and it won't operate after 9 pm at night.
Apparently the Commission is concerned that allowing NHS to have an LED sign will set some sort of precedent that will lead to a proliferation of digital signs in our city.
I certainly don't want LED signs popping up everywhere either but this is a high school we're talking about here. The vigilant members of the zoning commission should realize the the benefits of having a communication vehicle of this sort out-weighs whatever minor aesthetic problems a couple of neighbors might have. The proposed zoning amendment only allows for signs to be put in front of schools that have over 1100 students, eliminating all but the two high schools. High schools in Ridgefield, Trumbull, Darien and Danbury all have similar signs.
The amendment will be voted on by the Zoning Commission in mid-October.
The planning and zoning board's resistance on this matter also puts a chill on parental involvement in our schools. In this case the money for the sign was raised completely by parents over many years -- exactly the type of dedication we want for school teams and activities. Now these same folks have had to hire experts to conduct traffic studies and a lawyer to present their case to the commission. What a waste of time and money.
The Commission's time and resources should be spent on making sure our neighborhoods remain balanced, not in finding ways to destroy school spirit.
Friday, September 18, 2009
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Moina, thank you for taking the time to cover this topic. The parents of NHS spend in inordinate amount of time creating tag board signs with cut-out letter, laminating them so that they'll hold up in inclement weather, and affixing them to an old ping pong table leaning against a tree. This is laborious and unattractive. We are striving to make NHS and the city of Norwalk a place where all are informed and where school/town pride can thrive. Let's all hope Zoning passes this amendment.
ReplyDeleteMoina, having sat in the audience at this hearing and having some knowledge of zoning laws some of your commentary is way off base.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, the zonings laws in Norwalk don't allow ground signs in residential neighborhoods in Norwalk. Secondly, a proposed change in the zoning regulations requires a public hearing. I would say that is a good thing especially when you talk about transparency in city governement.
The Committee proposing this sign could have applied for a variance but they apparently decided against it. In fact the sign at McMahon was granted by means of a variance.
Now, why did they make this application after they purchased the sign? I would think that they would want to make sure they could do something like put up an illuminated sign in a residental zone before they go to the trouble to raise money and make a $68,000 purchase? That sounds like poor planning to me?
You bring out a lot of good points for the sign but then to characterize the hearing as a "waste of time and money" simply shows a lack of understanding for the process. I'm sure the neigbor whose house is right next to the sign would not say it is a "minor aesthetic problem". In fact he made a very cogent argument about it. I'm sure if he didn't have a place to voice his opinion he would be writing in this blog about how he was not allowed to be heard on this issue. The interesting thing about zoning is that you have to consider the "unintended conseqences" of an approval or denial. I don't have a dog in this fight but I doubt the Commission is looking to "destroy school spirit".
I'll add a postscript to the above. About 3 or 4 years ago, BMHS wanted to purchase a similar electronic sign, but the administration first checked with the appropriate city officials, and they were informed about the zoning restriction regarding such signs in residential neighborhoods. People were disappointed, but they accepted the situation, especially because of their awareness that it is difficult, at best, to live near a school, especially a high school. We owe it to the neighbors to be as deferential to them as we can.
ReplyDeleteAs a result, McMahon still has the old-fashioned kind of sign out in front, but no one has suffered irreparable harm as a result.
If NHS gets this approval, BMHS may want to do the same.
I was at Trumbull High School several weeks ago. They do not have an electronic sign, probably for the same zoning reason.
ReplyDeleteNorwalk Highs renovation was left unfinished. Half the parking lot is newly paved, the other half is all broken. They ran out of money to powerwash the exterior so it looks like some Russian artifact with its dripping black stains. The sports teams walk the streets looking for fields to play at. Every time this school and or its parents tries to improve itself a small vocal minority starts yelling and complaining. You'd thunk they'd have noticed they're right right next to a high school and stuff is supposed to happen there.
ReplyDeleteThe way people are talking, this sign is the solution to all of Norwalk High School's problems. If communication with parents is the concern, there is a much deeper issue that has to be addressed, and that is establishing and maintaining relationships between the staff and the parents.
ReplyDeleteOh. And just because the previous posting says "stuff is supposed to happen" at a high school, that doesn't mean that the neighborhood has to continue to suffer whatever the school decides to do.
Put the sign next to Stew's, where it belongs, and let the students operate it remotely.
How many parents will really see it in the proposed location? How about putting it on the Strawberry Hill side where folks on public transportation will see it?
ReplyDeleteFYI- All Norwalk schools were cited for parent/school communication. It's a good thing when a school takes steps to rectify that missing link. It's a shame that more citizens don't see the connection between strong schools and home values.
ReplyDeleteParent-School communication is not going to be improved with a digital sign. In my mind, there is no connection. After all, how many parents of NHS students actually live in the area? It seems to me that there are many buses that transport students from school to home...as well as many cars that students drive. I do not see the connection for the majority of parents.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a mock-up of the sign can be put up in the desired location so the public can understand its true dimensions and impact. There seems to be much comparison to Stew Leonard's sign which is very different. This sign is much lower to the ground with stone pillars and landscaping. It looks more like an entry-way to a private road than a retail advertising sign, and might actually raise property values of the adjacent homes. And I have to disagree with the previous posting, that the school is visited by hundreds of cars per day, many of them parents dropping off and picking up for various school activities. It would be read tremendously by parents.
ReplyDeleteThis discussion of improved communications is too foolish for words. The kind of communication that strengthens bonds within a school community is a 2-way process, not a matter of reading a sign.
ReplyDeleteThe facts:
A politician decided to get a state grant to fund a project that does not meet a significant need, and he is doing it with our tax money.
Some people took it upon themselves to ignore the zoning laws, and they bought a sign that doesn't conform.
The same people are now saying that they already spent a lot of money, and so the sign should be allowed.
The same people are sitting back, dreaming of countless reasons why the sign is needed, most of which reasons require a stretch of the imagination.
If the sign is so important, why aren't we hearing a similar cry from Brien McMahon, which doesn't have an electronic sign?
I am not sure the project started with a politician getting a state grant. Rather I believe parents from NHS raised the money for the sign through private donations.
ReplyDeleteI suspect that the cost of maintenance and electric to run the sign would become part of the BOE budget. Any idea about the electrical cost to run a sign like that?
No doubt that if this is approved, BMHS will want a sign. Keep in mind that this proposed regulation change only affects the high schools but I suspect, the middle schools and the elementary schools will want a sign in the future and will make the same type of application.
There is a $20,000 state grant that one of the state legislators got. There is also money raised by the parents.
ReplyDeleteWith that kind of money, I'd buy library books.
Kindles for all!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much people want to live in their cocoons and are so afraid of changes.
ReplyDeleteOf course the sign proposed for NHS is not a solution for parents, students and teachers communications, but it is one step closer.
Give it a chance and if the sign is put in place, in a few weeks, nobody will even think about this issue anymore.
In my opinion, since the sign is already purchased, let’s get on with it, put it in place and spend our focus and energy in something else, maybe finding something for our High school students do after school, so they will not just wonder in the neighborhood when school is over. They need a place to go, a place to study or work.
I would guess that the previous poster doesn't live in view of Norwalk High School. Let us stay with the issues, instead of resorting to an attempts at charged words.
ReplyDeleteAdhering to zoning laws isn't living in a cocoon; it is protecting the appearance of a neighborhood. The appearance has direct impact on property values. The school's failure to follow zoning regulations before buying the sign is not a reason for granting a variance.
A sign isn't a step closer to communications with parents, students and teachers. If it were that easy, educational reformers would be recommending signs at schools.
I agree that it would be wonderful if there were more for students to do after school, but that has nothing to do with residents' opposition to a sign.
isn't it against zoning regulations to have those make shift signs outside of NHS?
ReplyDeleteIt is against zoning regulations. Those yard signs you you see in residential zones are not supposed to be there. But now you get into a question of enforcement. I suspect there is not enough staff to go around given all the zoning violations the zoning department has to deal with along with all the applications they deal with.
ReplyDeleteYou can make a strong argument that the aesthetics of an illuminated sign far outweigh the look of hundred flyers posted to a billboard which often get pulled off the board and cause a litter problem. The more important question is do you want to set a precedent with these signs at high schools in Norwalk and then later perhaps, the middle schools, elementary schools and even perhaps churchs and preschools, etc. all in residential neighborhoods? It is something to consider.