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Local restaurant owner urges caution on sign rules, warns of enforcement burden for small businesses
Summary
Alan Piles, owner of the Lafayette Inn and Restaurant, urged commissioners to weigh business impacts and enforcement capacity before adopting strict sign limits, saying many signs he sees are exempt but worried smaller businesses would face new burdens.
During the public hearing portion of the Stannersville meeting, Alan Piles, owner of the Lafayette Inn and Restaurant and a Greene County resident, urged the commission to consider business impacts before finalizing stricter sign rules.
"We wanna try to still be business friendly ... it's hard when I can't put a sign up front," Piles said, asking commissioners to balance aesthetic goals with the practical needs of small employers. He described seeing "9, 12 different signs" on a short route and asked who would be responsible for policing compliance, suggesting the county might need additional enforcement staff.
Staff responded that many of the signs Piles described are exempt (real estate, directional, historical plaques), and encouraged him to address the town council at the upcoming hearing. The exchange highlighted business owners' concerns about additional regulatory complexity and enforcement capacity as the commission finalized its formal recommendation.
