The Town of Cary will review its ordinance restricting the number, design and size of signs a business may display.

Cary is known for being strict with signage, which often makes it difficult to locate businesses unless you know exactly where you're going.

"We have a reputation for that," Town Council member Don Frantz said with a laugh.

"We had letters that were like these," Roma's Italian Bakery co-owner Lisa Hrehor said, pointing at her front window. "We had them describing cookies, subs, pizza. And then if we put another sign in the window like a 'Help Wanted' sign, that was considered too many signs."

So, like many businesses, Roma's scaled things back a little.

Frantz said he's had requests from business owners and residents to relax the rules, which haven't been touched for a decade.

During Thursday's council meeting, members voted to revisit the issue by approving a comprehensive review of the ordinances.

"[We're] kind of evaluating what's best for the community as a whole so that we can continue to protect the character and charm that is Cary, while still possibly being able to give the business community and residents a little more flexibility in what they're allowed to do," Frantz said.

The main catalyst is the economy. Businesses say they lose out on a lot of would-be customers who simply can't find them.

"We have many people who have driven by for years and said they never really knew what we had in here," said Hrehor.

The current rules can be confusing, too, even for a company that makes the signs.

"Every day I have to tell somebody what they can and can't have," Judy Debowski, manager of Signs Now, said. "Whether it's banners or wall signs or sidewalk signs."

Frantz said the review itself will take several months, and there's no timetable for any potential changes.

The review will encompass everything sign-related, from store fronts to neon and even temporary ‘Open House' real estate signs.