Bad Signs for South Walton

[Jenksy]

I have always disliked the 10-foot high white signs at intersections. They look trashy. I don't think they help any business anyhow.


And while we're at it, sandwich board signs are everywhere now. A loophole in a pretty good sign ordinance that makes our area look cluttered and commercial. We need less signs!!!


Thankfully the state is making the county remove the ones on state road rights of way - let's make sure all of them come down please. On county roads also.

Large, white community direction signs now indicate businesses down Don Bishop Road, Mack Bayou Road, County Road 393 and elsewhere in South Walton County. But they will be taken down after nearly 10 years.




“Fifteen have been cited to be removed,” said Ed Morrissey, who owns Paint Booth Body Shop on Don Bishop.




DOT representative Josh Rudd said the signs are illegal because they are on the state right of way.




“There are (15) signs on Highway 98, a state road. You’re not allowed to put anything on state right of way,” Rudd said.




Even if they weren’t on the right of way, the signs still would be in violation because of their size or because they are off-site advertising, according to Rudd.




Business owners were notified Nov. 1 that the signs violated state law and that they would be removed in 10 days.




Although the business owners were notified, the county has the responsibility to remove them.




“The people don’t own the signs, the county does,” said Rudd. “Six months ago, I got with the county. (They) were supposed to have them removed.”




Morrissey, who has owned his business for 28 years, says it’s a shame to lose the signs, which were in compliance with county regulations when he and other business owners on Don Bishop put them up.




“It was 5 feet wide, no taller than 10 feet, black (print) on white,” Morrissey said.




He has come to terms that the signs must be removed, but fears all the businesses off U.S. 98 will suffer.




“That’s at least 75 businesses,” Morrissey said.




Rudd said the signs will be removed Nov. 13 or sooner, whether by the state or the county. He added that they cannot be replaced unless business owners “can get the county to kill the ordinance on directional signs,” he said.

 

[Teresa]

I don't mind the plain white wood signs. I think they are important for small businesses located off the main road. Recently discussed this issue with a group of long term local friends who agreed these signs are not only good for business but the only signs they really like anywhere around here because they are minimal, plain and simple though visible. Mostly they were concerned for the businesses.

 

[tistheseason]

I like the white signs, I think they have character. As a tourist, they have been helpful. But you know, so have the sandwich boards! I kinda like those, too!

 

[Teresa]

I like the white signs, I think they have character. As a tourist, they have been helpful. But you know, so have the sandwich boards! I kinda like those, too!

LOVE the sandwich boards!

 

[AirRocker]

I don't mind them at all. Kinda sad to see them go.

 

[tomboymuldowney]

Welcome to the"scenic corridor". I sell outdoor advertising for Lamar outdoor and we fight that battle all the time. Let me know if you want a real sign that they can't take down! Tmuldowney@lamar.com.

 

[Andy A]

I think the overall abundance of road signs that inform you of things you ought to be aware of if you have normal intelligence are much more offensive than the the white signs. Teresa has it right about them. People who don't know the area will miss many local businesses they might patronize if they remained. We appear to have no common sense regarding signage in Walton County.

 

[miznotebook]

Hi, Andy. The way I read the article, it is the state, not the county, who is saying that the community directory signs must go. These signs are actually provided for in county code.

 

[Andy A]

Sorry, miznotebook, for the lapse in memory. I understand right-of-way but it seems once again our government is overreaching in doing away with something that is needed when it could be removed if the necessity arose. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[miznotebook]

Sorry, miznotebook, for the lapse in memory. I understand right-of-way but it seems once again our government is overreaching in doing away with something that is needed when it could be removed if the necessity arose. Thanks for the clarification.

That's OK, just trying to keep the wrong party from being blamed, and it may be overreaching.
Something new came out at the county commission meeting last night, it may have been after you left. Commissioner Comander said she had checked with the planning department and had found out that DOT had NOT told the county that the community directory signs must be removed. However, Mac Carpenter of the planning department said that the matter was the topic of an ongoing discussion between the county and DOT.