The Town of Oro Valley has caused quite a stir within the business community by enforcing a sign code provision that forces businesses to turn off their lighted signs shortly after closing. The Town is not trying to conserve energy; in fact, they recently raised the utility tax to 4% to squeeze a little more money out of us. They are not trying to protect our skies from excessive light; all signs comply with the Dark Skies Ordinance. No, it’s just a few disgruntled citizens complaining to the Town Council about everything they don’t like and the Town Council reacts.

This lack of concern for business is not unique to Oro Valley. It seems like a negative attitude towards business is contagious between municipalities. First Oro Valley raises its utility tax to 4%, then the City of Tucson matches Oro Valley’s utility tax and raises taxes even further by taxing Health Clubs and Tanning Salons. 

As a metropolitan Chamber of Commerce we are ready to stand up for the businesses in the region. We have been the advocate of business for 110 years and we have no intention of stopping now.

Signs have been around for a long time. You would think by now that merchants and municipalities could come to an understanding of how important signs are to generate commerce and develop a customer base. To answer why Oro Valley has gotten to this point, we must look at history.

Most early signs were put in place by the government. The Romans were big on directional signs so travelers would not get lost. The concept of road signs has not changed much in thousands of years.

Businesses began “hanging shingles” even longer. With the invention of the lantern, illuminated signs began to appear. The 1893 Worlds Fair introduced the electric neon sign. Wide spread use of electricity ushered in a new era of signage. 

This brings us to the history of signs in the Town of Oro Valley, incorporated in 1975. The Town founders were courageous folk who fought long and hard with the City of Tucson and Pima County for the right to exist. A nice safe place to live was their primary goal. I must say that they were successful in creating one of the nicest places to live and raise a family in Arizona. Creating a business climate, however, was not and still is not on their front burner.

Early Oro Valley did not have a single business. Through annexation, a little market in Sun City, and a 7-11 on the South side of the town began a struggling business economy. In 1983 with no tax base and near bankruptcy, the Town was given new blood with the opening of the El Conquistador Resort. The resort’s name on a small wall at the entrance was all that was allowed for signage. Even their new monument sign is not much bigger. It was not until more than 10 years later that back lit signs were to appear. Internally lit signs were not allowed and color was very limited. When the Target Center was built in the late 1990’s, the Town Council broke a sacred rule that caused such furor that some old time residents have not forgiven them to this day. They allowed Target to use the color red on their logo! 

Now you get the picture of where we are today. Businesses want the right to determine for themselves how long to keep their dimly lit signs on. The Town is saying, “The law is the law.”  We say, let’s change the law for the benefit of commerce and the Town’s tax base.

On August 19, 2009 at 7 pm, the Town of Oro Valley Town Council will meet to discuss and possibly take action on this issue. The Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce intends to speak in support of the affected businesses.   The voice of business must be heard.