Examples of temporary signs that are in compliance with the town rules. (Davidson Planning Department)
The Town of Davidson this week announced two new initiatives that could have a big effect on local merchants – an impending crackdown on illegal temporary signs and the start of study of downtown traffic and parking. Also, a reminder about changes in the town’s leaf-collection procedures this year.
ENFORCEMENT OF SIGN RULES COMING
Town officials announced earlier this week that in early November they’ll begin stricter enforcement of the town’s rules on temporary signs and banners outside businesses. Different kinds of temporary signs are allowed, but require permits, must be within a specified distance of the entrance, and can only be temporary.
Businesses that violate the rules will receive notices and could be liable for fines of up to $50 per day under the ordinance.
The announcement earlier this week followed an Oct. 8 presentation at the town’s monthly merchants’ meeting explaining the town’s existing sign ordinance and previewing new enforcement efforts. A press release said business owners “should pay close attention to a letter that will soon come to their mailboxes.”
Section 14 of the town ordinance governs how businesses may use and display signs such as A-frames, banners, and easels.
Planning Manager Lauren Blackburn said the rules’ rationale is to:
- Encourage creative and innovative approaches to signage within an established framework.
- Promote economic vitality and enhance overall property values.
- Promote a quality visual environment by allowing signs that are compatible with their surroundings and which effectively communicate their message.
- Ensure signs and any associated text, logos, and artwork are pedestrian-oriented, enhancing pedestrian safety and experience.
Find Section 14 of the ordinance on the Planning Department web page (PDF), CLICK HERE>).
Download a summary of the sign rules (PDF), CLICK HERE>
Download the Oct. 8 presentation to local merchants (PDF), CLICK HERE>
PARKING STUDY BEGINS
At the Town Board work session Tuesday night, planning officials introduced members of a new citizen committee that will help study parking downtown. The town also has hired parking consultants Rich & Associates to help conduct the study.
Rich & Associates representatives are in town this week through Saturday looking at parking and traffic patterns and meeting with local officials, residents and business owners. They’ll be looking at the number of available parking spaces, parking turnover, and signage that points drivers and pedestrians to parking, shopping, and dining.
Anyone interested in in meeting with Rich & Associates may make an appointment by calling Economic Development Kris Krider at 704-940-9640 or emailing him at “kkrider@ci.davidson.nc.us. The town also is planning a web survey.
LOOSE LEAF PICKUPS END
As we’ve reported previously, the Town of Davidson has made a big change in its collection of autumn leaves. Beginning this fall, the town no longer will vacuum up leaves raked roadside gutters. The town has cited a variety of reasons: rising costs for picking up leaves as the town grows, the high cost of replacing an aging vacuum truck, and the difficulty of picking up wet leaves.
“Loose leaves also cause deterioration of our streets and curbs and have a negative impact on our storm drain system,” the town said in an announcement.
So Davidson is asking residents to bag their leaves before placing them at the curb. Alternatively, it is encouraging residents to compost leaves in their own yards.
Read more about the new policy on the town website. See also our Oct. 14, 2010, report, “Loose leaf pickups end; bag or compost ’em now.”
CLARIFICATION: At the town of Davidson’s request, we have added the phrase “in compliance with town rules” to the picture caption at the top of this story.
Sounds like the perfect solution to the current recession for merchants in the town. Maybe the town plans to generate enough in fines to pay for the continuing MI-Connection losses. Apparently, our town “self image” is more important than helping struggling businesses survive. The town is more guilty of trashy temporary signs and banners than all the merchants combined … take a look at the Village Green on any given day. They must give themselves permanent dispensation from their own ordinances … but they harass merchants for minor violations. But then … we just pay the taxes for the salaries of the town bureaucrats who make the rules … what else is new?
Jim Naylor
Shear Madness Inc./Great Clips (Davidson Commons)
It’s nice to know where you stand on the issue, Jim. Frankly, I think many of us value BOTH the town’s image and business success, which are among the many reasons why we live here.
Part of the reason why Davidson’s businesses are generally successful is precisely because they’re part of a community that’s NOT as permissive as most everywhere else, which then encourages business to distinguish itself through stronger service and product, rather than through the sheer amount of splashy signage all over … where the race to the bottom ends up with the inevitable huge, purple, inflatable gorilla.
We also value the thoughtfulness of town staff and elected officials who work hard to develop policies and practices that usually manage to walk the fine line between the community and the individual good.
I believe many of us would be sorry to hear that any business is struggling, but I don’t think many of us would agree that the Town’s enforcement of this level of (existing) requirement is a primary cause.
Tell me that there isn’t enough to do already for the recently reduced staff of the Town of Davidson! Enforcing Davidson’s Planning Ordinance Section 14, Signs, will most likely keep every Town employee on constant, 24/7 vigilance to ensure evil businesses comply with the most detailed (and obscure) requirements ever set to paper by a municipality. By comparison, this ordinance makes a similar Ordinance in the Town of Troutman appear grossly amateurish.
Detailed in that each business (and the Town’s Sign Police) will have to count signs, measure dimensions of Town sidewalks, calculate square footage of signage, measure the height of letters used in signs, provide proof that signage is constructed of durable materials, document sight visibility triangles, provide sign maintenance and cleaning, etc., etc., etc.
Can’t wait to see the fun this causes next month!
Andy Stevens, Troutman
Are the 3 photos of signs meant to show examples of signs that are not in compliance with our sign ordinance? If so, perhaps it is the ordinance that needs to change. With perhaps one exception, I find none of these signs to be offensive.
There is no question that we don’t want to allow businesses to put inflatable gorillas and Santas on top of their buildings, but these three signs seem to be rather modest examples of an establishment simply trying to call attention to a special.
The town should not exempt itself or causes it deems worthy from the sign ordinance. The most glaring example of a bad sign in town? The ‘Save our Library’ banner that’s been on the Village Green the past few months. It’s big, garish, and once it rained the first time it’s red paint has been dripping down the sign like blood from a vampire. I can understand a business owner’s frustration about being chastised for putting out a small a-frame while this sign dominates our most visible public space. The fact that the sign supports an excellent cause does not excuse its appearance.
While I completely support an effective sign ordinance, I do have the reaction that if our town’s resources are going to be spent going after the a-frame at the Soda Shop, we must have addressed all of the important challenges in front of us.
CLARIFICATION: The town has asked us to adjust the photo caption above to add the phrase “in compliance.” We accurately said they were examples of temporary signs. The town wants to make it clear they are examples of allowed signs.
Town spokeswoman Megan Pillow Davis says a couple of those signs could be illegal under certain conditions – if left up too long, for example. Here’s her explanation:
“The one on the left was approved by permit for temporary use for an event (like a store opening); the one in the middle was approved as a permanent alternative to a sandwich-board sign (like the one on the left); and the one on the right was approved by permit for temporary use for an event. So each one has its own explanation, but all are approved for use. … Examples of signs that are in violation would be the sign on the left or on the right, if they were left up permanently or if they were put up without a permit.”