TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Some business owners in Tarpon Springs are frustrated with the city’s newly enforced signage code.

A city ordinance states that plastic sandwich board signs, which are very common in areas like the Historic Sponge Docks, are no longer allowed outside shops. Instead, they must be made of wood or metal.

For nearly three years, Bill Dennison has been putting plastic signs outside his business, Anclote Brew. Foot traffic is how he gets a lot of customers.

“I understand what they’re trying to do,” Dennison said in an interview with Spectrum Bay News 9. “They’re trying to unify the area and make everything look beautiful. But I feel the plastic signs are just as good as the metal ones.”

The city just started enforcing an ordinance that states businesses can’t use the plastic sidewalk signs. Instead they must be made of metal or wood.

The idea is to clean up the look of areas like the sponge docks for tourists.

But many business owners say they have spent lots of money on these signs and think they look fine — and do their job well. Plus, they say plastic hold up better than other materials.

“Many spent hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars, on some of their signs.  Now they’re being told their signs are not appropriate,” Dennison said.

The Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners heard complaints at Tuesday night’s meeting. Some on the board, like Mayor Chris Alahouzos, said the controversial ordinance should be reconsidered.

“Some of these signs look better than those made wood or metal,” Alahouzos said in the meeting. “I think it’s time we look at this ordinance and fine tune it.”

That’s a relief to folks like Dennison, who are hoping to keep using the signs they have been all along.

“I’m hoping they can figure it out. And hope I don’t have to buy new signs.” Dennison said.

As the ordinance is now being looked at for a change, code enforcement will hold off enforcing the sign rules for now.