Chesterton approves Oz dates for 2010
The Chesterton Town Council unanimously approved a request from the Duneland Business Initiative Group regarding next year’s Wizard of Oz Festival dates.
DBIG, which brought the festival back to Chesterton this year, requested a three-day event again on Sept. 17, 18, and 19.
Council member Sharon Darnell asked if costs to the town will be addressed by the event organizers. Council member David Cincoski, who moved to approve the dates, asked the group to work with department heads on cost and booth space requests.
In other business, Chesterton/Duneland Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Heather Ennis, acting on behalf of a group of local business owners, asked the council to reconsider town sign ordinances.
Ennis said that such improvements as blade signage, way-finding signage, sandwich board signage, frontage and window signage, and the waiver for signage during business change would help local businesses.
Council member Jeff Trout recommended that Ennis take up the issue with the Plan Commission. It can work with the town attorney to draft proper wording.
“I’ve taken a look at your materials and I think it would be beneficial to the downtown to have some signage that is not allowed now,” said Trout.
Council President Emerson De Laney said that the suggestions come on the heels of discussions with marketing experts and he welcomed the business group’s comments.
“Our sign ordinance in some respects needs some updating,” said De Laney.
The council also voted unanimously to amend a portion of text of the uniform comprehensive zoning and subdivision control ordinance regulating nonconforming structures which Town Attorney Charles Lukmann said became an issue after the tornado hit the Chesterton area in August.
