Woodstock looks to put garage sales online
By TIM KANE - tkane@nwherald.com
WOODSTOCK – Garage sales could be posted on the city's "live" Web site along with a MapQuest link to show bargain hunters how to get there.
Under a revamped ordinance that is expected to pass the City Council on Tuesday night, permit fees for garage sales are expected to jump to $10 from $2. The increase would pay for extra service and extra enforcement from the city.
City officials said the change in the ordinance was an attempt to lure more people to City Hall to get permits and make sure that they are aware of the rules.
"The main reason why we're doing this is to respond to the continuous garage sales that are out there," said Jim Kastner, planning and zoning administrator. "Some residential neighborhoods are being turned into retail, with all the vehicular traffic and foot traffic you'd find at a busy store.
"And illegal garage-sale signs often block the line of sight of motorists and pedestrians."
Many residents don't realize that permits are required for garage sales or that they can sell stuff out of their garages for only eight days out of the entire year, a city official said.
Under the new ordinance, the city would allow three signs – one on-premise sign and two off- premise signs.
The off-premise "self-supported" signs would be no larger than 2 1/2 feet and no more than 3 feet from the ground.
Stapling garage-sale signs to telephone and utility poles will continue to be against city code, Kastner said.
The city's code enforcement officer removed 389 illegal garage sale signs, many that had been stapled to utility poles, between April and October.
