ZELIENOPLE — The borough will seek to limit the negative impact of sandwich board signs on sidewalks, although not without coming up with a plan to help businesses attract customers in return.

During a borough council meeting Monday, Don Pepe, borough manager, said sandwich boards have been permitted for free with few issues. However, he said ordinances did not provide guidelines for their use.

According to Shelly Kaltenbaugh, the borough's code enforcement and zoning officer, some businesses outside of the Main Street area had moved their signs to the corner to gain more visibility.

“As Main Street sites become more premium, we have people moving onto the side streets and, seemingly, they feel that it is difficult for people to see that there are businesses up the street,” she said.

The proposed change to the ordinance stipulates that signs must be on a business' property and be within six feet of the entrance. Additionally, during special events — such as parades — in which a number of people are in the borough, the business can be asked to move signs determined to be an obstacle.

In an effort to minimize the impact the ordinance could have on business, Kaltenbaugh said she and other officials are discussing the implementation of wayfaring signs, which would point people toward various businesses in the downtown area.

“We need to start thinking about these businesses that are locating off Main Street,” she said.

Council President Allen Bayer agreed, and said the signs should be pursued in an “expeditious fashion.”

Pepe said the goal of the ordinance change “is not to hurt anybody, but to make sandwich board signs more pedestrian friendly.”

The changes will be advertised and voted upon in the coming months.