THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 8, 1996 TAG: 9603080565
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Merchants are frustrated about the proposed wording to be emblazoned on a huge sign near the business district. - but they're even more upset by the delay in getting any sign erected.
Roanoke Island Business Association members told the Manteo Board of Commissioners at Wednesday night's meeting that they were concerned the latest sign could be distracting and self-defeating, since it says too much and directs visitors away from downtown Manteo. They said that for years they've been expecting a simpler and larger sign.
A silver-colored pillar the diameter of a small garbage can is in place for the future sign at the corner of Fernando and Highway 64. Complained an old-timer unhappy with the size of the pillar: ``If we put a light on top, we'd have our own lighthouse right in town.''
Two waterfront businessmen said they thought the wording was decided in 1990 when the association wanted larger signs created to draw visitors to the district. Modest-sized eastbound and westbound signs currently point to ``Historic Waterfront Village Elizabeth II.''
``We're still anxiously waiting with bated breath or no breath at all for the erection of that sign,'' said Ray Hollowell, owner of the Waterfront. ``Our merchants really need all the help we can get in downtown Manteo. This visibility is extremely important.''
Hollowell said waterfront business increased noticeably when the original signs were installed around 1990.
The 8 1/2-by-14-foot sign the state Department of Transportation proposes to replace the existing westbound sign directs drivers straight ahead to ``NC Aquarium, Lost Colony and Eliz Gardens,'' and to the right to ``Waterfront Village and Elizabeth II.''
DOT officials were unavailable for comment.
``I am one of those merchants hanging on by my fingernails waiting for these promises to come down the pike,'' Jack Hughes, owner of Island Trading Co., told the board.
Hughes said he estimates that the waterfront gets ``probably one-tenth'' of the traffic that travels through Manteo. While asking the board to help speed the placement of the new sign, he questioned the need for the added words.
``There's no purpose served other than politics in putting that additional language on that sign,'' Hughes said.
Although Mayor Lee Tugwell objected to taking action on a nonpublished agenda item, he allowed Commissioner Bill Buell's motion asking DOT to go back to the original idea, which directed travelers just to the waterfront. Buell added that DOT could paint over the new sign.
Tugwell said decisions about the sign are DOT's call, but DOT officials have solicited Manteo's opinion.
``This sign has been an evolutionary process, and I don't know how we got in the middle of it, but there we are,'' Tugwell said.
In another matter Monday, resident James Wade addressed the board about a conflict with Kellogg Supply Co. Inc. on Barlow Street. Wade said delivery trucks to the business were parking in front of his house and aggravating his wife's health problems. Although Kellogg's had put up ``no parking'' signs by Wade's house, which is directly across the street, he said the truck drivers don't always pay attention to them.
``They just look at them, they don't mean a thing,'' Wade said. ``They just come in and park and do anything they want.''
Conceding he was generally pleased with the signs, Wade urged the board to forbid trucks altogether on Barlow Street.
An attorney representing Kellogg said the business has instructed drivers not to leave their trucks near Wade's residence, but would under no condition consider allowing the street to be closed to delivery vehicles.
Commissioner Melvin Jackson said the town was created 100 years ago, and, like it or not, it lacks wide streets that provide easy passage for trucks. But Jackson was joined by the rest of the panel in his objection to any ban on trucks.
``I just cannot support a legal paper closing this street to trucks,'' Jackson said. ``They're too important to the people of this town.''
KEYWORDS: SIGNS by CNB