YORBA LINDA : Businesses Lose Bid to Put Up Signs

The owners of several businesses in the Savi Ranch commercial area were denied permission to display temporary signs to direct customers to their establishments.

Jim Maniscalco, who owns a tire store on Savi Ranch Parkway, said customers can’t find his store because there are no signs on the major streets leading into the commercial area.

The city plans to install signs.

Maniscalco had asked the City Council to relax the city’s strict sign code and allow him to place signs on Yorba Linda Boulevard and Savi Ranch Parkway.

This week, the City Council approved a plan to add the phrase “auto service center” to several existing signs in the Savi Ranch area, but denied business owners permission to put up their own signs.

“It’s totally against our sign code,” said Pat Haley, community development director. “As soon as we authorize (a variance) for (Maniscalco) every other business will want to put up temporary signs. That’s totally contrary to the code.”

Maniscalco and other business owners say their businesses will suffer unless they are allowed to put up signs.

“People here are hurting real bad,” Maniscalco said. “If I can’t tell people ‘I’m here,’ I’ll be out of business.”

The council also denied for now a request to allow auto-related businesses to advertise on the city-owned electronic Auto Plaza sign that is visible from the Riverside Freeway.

Haley said the city has a contract with the one auto dealer located in the auto plaza that limits who may advertise on the sign. Caltrans also has a say in advertisers because the sign is visible from the freeway.

“We have not untangled the legal agreements regarding the sign,” Haley said. “We are working on it and when we have figured them out, we will go to Caltrans to see if we can use the sign (for other advertising).”