Chamber hosts community meeting

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 17, 2008

DEMOPOLIS &8212; A community Lunch-n-Learn hosted by the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce is set for Thursday at Rooster Hall with the topic, &8220;Choices Communities Make.&8221;

The city&8217;s current sign and banner ordinance will be the main item on the agenda for the community meeting.

Smith said the planning for the meeting was in direct response to the discussion and recent review request by the Chamber to the planning commission of the current sign and banner ordinance.

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Cheryl Morgan, who leads Auburn University&8217;s Urban Studio, will speak during the meeting.

The community event will begin at 11:30 a.m. A Dutch treat lunch will be provided at a cost of $8.75 per person. To reserve space, call the Chamber office before Wednesday.

The sign and banner ordinance has been a leading topic on city leader&8217;s agendas during the past month. During Thursday night&8217;s city council meeting, the council made no move toward lifting a controversial business banner ban. The council is left awaiting a proposed banner ordinance from the city planning commission, which has taken up discussions of the banner ordinance, and is working toward recommending a new ordinance in 60 to 75 days, said council and commission member Charles Jones.

But Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce president Kelley Smith said business owners were largely happy with the commission&8217;s work so far. She said the members understand the procedures to get the ordinance changed are a process.

The planning commission met twice this week and has begun to hammer out language on a new ordinance that would allow businesses to use banner advertising, by permit, four times a year for up to 60 days.

For more information on the community meeting or the sign and banner ordinance contact the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce at 334-289-0270.