New big blue signs in SoWal

Thanks - is the meeting at the TDC or at the library?

In this mornings NW Fla Daily News. Meeting TODAY 9AM TDC HEADQUARTERS. -

TDC to address blue signs today

By ANDY MEINEN andym@nwfdailynews.com


SANTA ROSA BEACH ? Claire Bannerman said there is only one option for the big blue signs that dot Walton County Road 30A: Removal.
Bannerman is a member of the Scenic Pride Initiative, a group of residents who want the metal signs removed.
The Walton County Tourist Development Council began to install the signs in January.
Bannerman will get her chance to speak at the TDC?s meeting at 9 a.m. today at the council?s office at the corner of U.S. Highway 98 and U.S. Highway 331. The council spent about $260,000 on 49 directional and community signs to be placed at the Walton County lines and along CR 30A and its feeder roads. But the new markers caused a stir as soon when they were being installed and prompted the TDC to halt the work until a solution is found.
TDC Interim Executive Director Sonny Mares said he does not know what the council will recommend at today?s meeting.
Bannerman said the Scenic Pride Initiative already has several simpler, smaller designs for the signs to give to the TDC. They are about 3 feet tall and only have the names of the communities on them, she said. The TDC?s blue signs are 7 to 15 feet tall.
What if the TDC decides to keep the blue signs?
?That?s unacceptable,? said Bannerman, who added that she hopes residents and the TDC can work together to find a solution.
Many people have said the signs look out of place; they are too big and too blue.
?We do believe in signage,? Bannerman said. ?But it has to be absolutely right and in harmony with nature and the roadway.?
Daily News Staff Writer Andy Meinen can be reached at 654-6905.

Go Claire, et al.

Go Claire, et al.

I hope the "et al" will be an overflow crowd like the last meeting at the library!

Just in case, I am packing breakfast and coffee and a chair- I can tailgate in the parking lot.

News TV 7 said the meeting will be in library during their broadcast this morning. Can anyone confirm?

News TV 7 said the meeting will be in library during their broadcast this morning. Can anyone confirm?

Amazing. What a mess they have created before the meeting even starts. If this is true, I hope there is a sign at the TDC building directing everyone over. Or I will stand at the TDC myself and be a "Meeting Wayfinding Jdarg".

The library is my most recent information, but my information hasn't been super reliable. My plan is to eyeball the TDC parking lot as I pass on my way to the library just to make sure!

I hope the "et al" will be an overflow crowd like the last meeting at the library!

Just in case, I am packing breakfast and coffee and a chair- I can tailgate in the parking lot.

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signs coming down. more to follow.

signs coming down. more to follow.

YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!

I hope the "et al" will be an overflow crowd like the last meeting at the library!

Just in case, I am packing breakfast and coffee and a chair- I can tailgate in the parking lot.

You go girl!

signs coming down. more to follow.

Get Out! Hooray, we can all like blue, again!

signs coming down. more to follow.

You can't leave us hanging like that. . . .details, details. Oh heck. Who needs details. The fact that they are coming down is reason enough to celebrate!!

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU!!

Are the homes that are built on the beach "in harmony with nature"? Just curious....

Are the homes that are built on the beach "in harmony with nature"? Just curious....

Some are, some are not, but we sure as hell don't need giant signs telling us which are and which are not!!!

signs coming down. more to follow.

Thanks to all of you who are working so hard on this. All I did was e-mail letters but everything helps. You all are fantastic!!


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Are the homes that are built on the beach "in harmony with nature"? Just curious....

The truly beautiful ones are.

Are the homes that are built on the beach "in harmony with nature"? Just curious....

In many cases, yes they are IMO. Get off the beach property owner's case. They have enough to worry with answering th FDEP, the Fish and Wildlife Commission, the US Dept. of Civil Engineers and a myriad of other "concerned" citizens and agencies. A lot of the beach front owners were here long before you were and have done nothing but contribute to the esthetics value and useablity of the beach.

I just thought maybe if we did have "giant" signs showing the ones that aren't than we could maybe work on getting them brought down....

signs coming down. more to follow.

Just wanted to note, there was a good turnout even though there was confusion about the meeting place. It was wonderful to see the parking lot packed and cars parked on 98.
There were media representatives, should be good coverage on the evening news as they were interviewing Dave and TDC chairman John Gillis as I left.
Gillis said the TDC needed to look at replacing the signs! Then Maurice Gilbert said remove the signs on 30A and feeder roads. Ken Gifford made a motion to immediately remove them, it lost 3 to 4. Another motion, by Mary Brown, to take down the community id signs, passed.
There's still much work to be done. I believe the energy is there to continue to attend the meetings, work with other groups to find signs that reflect the beauty of the area, and impress upon the TDC that this is our community and our voice will be heard.

I just thought maybe if we did have "giant" signs showing the ones that aren't than we could maybe work on getting them brought down....

There is a difference between PUBLIC property and PRIVATE property, my friend. Stop trolling for a fight. Or start you're own thread. This one is celebration mode!!

I just thought maybe if we did have "giant" signs showing the ones that aren't than we could maybe work on getting them brought down....

Maybe you can identify specific properties you think should come down? If so, please start a new thread

Congrats on truly making a difference by standing for what you believe.

What a large turn out. I was a little shocked at Mary Brown's complaint that prior to the signs it drove people into her business.

Thanks to the TDC for hearing us loud and clear. Thank you for your decision to take down the signs on Scenic 30-A and feeder roads. The community designation signs are to be removed right away. The directional (wayfinding) signs that are the tall thin ones will be removed at the end of the season.

The bottom line is we achieved our goal total removal of all the signs. Thank you all at Sowal and thank everyone who put their time, energy and scenic spirit into this effort. This truly shows what is possible when everyone works together.

The TDC board should be held in high regard for their actions today and their willingness to work with all groups to create a coordinated sign plan for our scenic corridor.

Dave Rauschkolb

Thanks to the TDC for hearing us loud and clear. Thank you for your decision to take down the signs on Scenic 30-A and feeder roads. The community designation signs are to be removed right away. The directional (wayfinding) signs that are the tall thin ones will be removed at the end of the season.

The bottom line is we achieved our goal total removal of all the signs. Thank you all at Sowal and thank everyone who put their time, energy and scenic spirit into this effort. This truly shows what is possible when everyone works together.

The TDC board should be held in high regard for their actions today and their willingness to work with all groups to create a coordinated sign plan for our scenic corridor.


Dave Rauschkolb

Congratulations! I thank all of you for your dedication and hard work! I was cheering you on from afar!