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Bad Signs for South Walton

Jenksy avatar
Beach Fanatic
6,286 views
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.

Replies

26
Truman avatar
Beach Fanatic
#27
As promised, here is county staffs' proposed amendment to the County Land Development Code regarding "sandwich board" signs for CR 30A, US 98 and Scenic Gulf Drive. At the County Commission meeting this coming Tuesday county staff are asking the Commissioners for a directive to put this draft on the agenda for a future Planning Commission meeting. That will be the first step in the approval process. The public will have an opportunity for comment at both the Planning Commission meeting and the County Commission meeting where a final vote will be taken. In addition, comments and suggestions or questions can be directed to county staff at any time via email or phone to:


Wayne Dyess, Planning and Development Services Director
dyewayne@co.walton.fl.us
(850) 267-1955






PROPOSED AMENDMENT LANGUAGE DRAFT


LDC Section 7.04.07 Sandwich Board Signs


Sandwich boards are defined as being any temporary portable, advertising sign that is not permanently
fixed in position, usually comprised of an A frame structure with two hinged face areas, displayed
outside a business, and is not intended as permanent business signage.


I. Location
a. Sandwich board signs may be utilized on County Road 30A, US 98, and Scenic Gulf Drive.
b. No sandwich board sign shall be located on a public-right-of-way or placed in such a manner
which obstructs vehicular traffic and site distance requirements and shall not be placed in a manner
which will block or otherwise obstruct the safe use of sidewalks, bike paths, or building entrances
c. Sandwich board signs shall be located entirely upon the private property where the business is
located.
d. No more than one (1) sandwich board may be displayed at a business regardless of the number
of parcels occupied by such business or street frontage.
e. Each business/ storefront is allowed to place one sandwich sign no further than 20’ from the
entrance of the business.
f. In instances where multiple businesses occupy a single building (strip centers) with no direct
road frontage, sandwich board signs may be placed along the road frontage (entirely on private
property), and shall be no closer than one sign per 150 linear feet. Therefore there is no assurance that
each business will have the ability to place such a sign. The determination of which businesses are
allowed at any given time will be at the discretion of the landlord, center management or agreement
between businesses. In the event signs covered under this section are deemed to be closer than 100
feet apart, each sign shall be considered in violation.


II. Size
a. Sandwich board signs shall not exceed a total sign area of six (6) square feet per side, and shall
not exceed forty eight (48) inches in height as measured from the ground to the top of sign when
standing vertically when in the display position. Leg length shall not be included in the calculation of
total sign area.


III. Display Hours
a. Sandwich board signs shall not be displayed on any premise before 7:00 AM and shall be
removed each day at or before 9:00 PM and only during hours when the business is open to the public.


IV. Prohibited Signs and Devices
a. No sandwich board shall be constructed of, or use, reflective materials, lights or similar material.
No appurtenances such as balloons, windsocks, or paper shall be attached to a sandwich board sign.

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