Car Dealers Want New Sign Law

The Capistrano Auto Center, which represents six new-car dealerships, is asking the city to come up with special sign rules just for car sales.

. But that deal expires July 21.

So the dealers are asking the council to come up with permanent set of rules.

"Operating a new car dealership in San Juan Capistrano is not an easy business proposition, as evidenced by the departure and turnover of a number of franchises in recent years," wrote the managers of six local car dealers in a March 5 letter to the city.

"We are overdue to revise the sign ordinance that governs new car dealers in this town," they wrote.

The six, representing , , , , and , presented many photos of promotional signs and materials they would like to use, along with a few that they don't. (See photos).

"Let's work together to make sure the Capistrano Auto Center not only gets its slice of the pie, but also increases market share at the same time," the letter states.

The City Council is scheduled to kick off the process that will ultimately lead to a new signage law just for auto dealers at tonights meeting, which begins at 6 at , 32400 Paseo Adelanto, San Juan Capistrano.