Gardner Council, Planning Board Close Sign Code Hearing With No Public Opposition

Select Board · Meeting of April 6, 2026

Gardner's City Council and Planning Board closed a joint public hearing Monday on a proposal to relocate the city's sign regulations from the zoning code to a new general ordinance chapter, with no members of the public speaking for or against the change. The amendment, Item 11772, would move Article 9 of Chapter 675 to a new Chapter 665 without altering any of the sign rules themselves, solely shifting which legislative process governs future updates. A city administration official, co-sponsoring the ordinance alongside Councilor Mack, told the joint body that businesses have repeatedly cited Gardner's sign regulations as a barrier to opening or expanding, pointing to a federally funded $2,500-per-sign grant program that returned unspent American Rescue Plan dollars after two years because the permitting process discouraged applicants.

Sawa Asian Bistro on West Broadway, the official said, waited nearly a year to hang its sign after a three-inch dimensional overage forced the restaurant into a costly variance or redesign decision.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of April 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.