Traverse City commissioners voted 6-1 Monday to have city staff study a possible ordinance change that would allow blinking lights on the Bijou by the Bay marquee. Staff will return with a recommendation for consideration at the commission’s February 8 study session.

Commissioner Ross Richardson opposed the motion, citing his concern the move could eventually open the door to other businesses requesting “bright, jarring, flashing lights” within the city. “I don’t really care that much about whether the Bijou has flashing lights on it or not…what I would say is that I really like our sign ordinance,” Richardson said, pointing out how companies like McDonald’s have more subdued signs downtown than those that typically appear in other communities. “I don’t event want to open the door, so I’ll be voting no on this.”

Commissioner Gary Howe, who had requested that the marquee lights be placed on the commission agenda for consideration, said he didn’t “really buy the slippery slope argument.”

“What I’m requesting (from staff) is something very narrow – even if it’s just looking at theaters or even movie theaters, things that traditionally have chasing lights,” Howe said. Executive Director Deb Lake of the Traverse City Film Festival, which operates the Bijou, also noted that “we’re talking specifically about movie theaters…not talking about every theater, or every building, or every business.” Lake said TCFF received positive feedback from community members when the Bijou received permission from the city last summer to run blinking lights during festival week.

“People used words like ‘beautiful’ and ‘magical,’ and they love the graceful moving lights,” Lake said.

Commissioner Brian Haas echoed the sentiments of a handful of other commissioners when he said he was in favor of having staff study the issue, but noted that “doesn’t mean I’m necessarily going to vote for it.”

“I want to see what staff can bring forward, and do the research on this to see how it could work for the community,” Haas said.