Shakopee Business Owners Sound Off on Sign Ordinance

Better signage contributes to better business.

That seemed to be the general sentiment at a meeting Thursday morning at to discuss the city of Shakopee’s decade-old sign ordinance.

It was the second of three meetings to be held by the because President Angie Whitcomb said she’s received numerous complaints on the issue since she joined the chamber more than two years ago.

“We don’t want a mini Las Vegas,” she said. “But we do want businesses to showcase their buildings.”

Shakopee’s current sign ordinance, a lengthy document Community Development Director Michael Leek said would aid those wanting to fall asleep, was created in essence, to preserve the historic nature of Shakopee.

Each zone has different rules and restrictions and some business owners at the meeting were perplexed about some of them.

Billy Wermerskirchen, owner of , said he has plenty of signage space, thanks to having it grandfathered in.

“We don’t want to take anything down for fear of losing that space,” he said.

He’s even added lettering on the windows of the tailoring portion of his business and said he believes they might not meet the ordinance’s rules.

“It’s done in a historic manner and looks very nice,” he said. “It’s helpful to our business.”

Marla Estenson told Patch Thursday on Facebook that people from a sign task force stopped by the last year and told her the small sign in front of their store was not in compliance and that they could seize it, but didn’t. She also said when they shop first opened, they wanted a false front on the building and signage in the style of the old West, but were told it wasn’t allowed.

Wemerskirchen and others at the meeting were also concerned that there aren’t enough signs directing people to the downtown area from nearby roads.

“With no traffic coming through – we need to draw them in here,” he said of shoppers.

Some offered the idea of placing a larger sign near Huber Park with names of local businesses or one telling people to visit downtown Shakopee with an arrow pointing downtown.

Bryan Turtle, of pointed out that with Shakopee’s unique situation of having and already drawing tourists, signage is even more important in attracting those people to other parts of town.

“We want to make sure this is a place that people want to open up shop and we want businesses to stay,” Whitcomb said.

The Chamber is compiling notes from all three meetings and will work with city officials on the best way to move forward from there.

The third meeting in the series is 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 27 in the Southbridge area at 8170 Old Carriage Court, Suite 100.