City’s sign ordinances getting new review

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, April 2, 2002

Some Brookhaven officials are taking a new look at improvingcity sign ordinances as a way of remedying what some peopleconsider “visual pollution” created by signs and banners on citystreets and rights of way.

David Phillips, a Brookhaven Planning Commission memberappointed to the review panel, said sign ordinance changes havebeen considered from time to time in the past, but the efforts”never seemed to go anywhere.” He said the new effort will focus oneducation, but also address strengthening compliance enforcementmeasures.

“There’s no way other than people’s own goodness of getting themto comply with the law,” Phillips said of the current signrules.

Subscribe to our free email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

Phillips said panel members want to raise awareness of signordinances and prohibitions against placement on city rights of wayand address portable signs and banners issues. The effort comesfollowing complaints from the chamber appearance committee andothers about signs, including new fluorescent ones recently put uparound town.

“It’s completely an appearance-driven concern,” Phillipssaid.

Lu Becker, another panel member, cited sign-related concerns inall parts of town.

“We’re not in compliance all over the city,” she said.

Like Phillips, Becker said sign ordinances in place now are notadhered to. She also mentioned a lack of education on the part ofsome business owners about the sign rules.

“It’s not out of belligerence or not wanting to cooperate,”Becker said.

Phillips said panel members will be reviewing other communities’ordinances to see how they handle rule enforcement. He would likesomething in between Madison, which could be considered mostrestrictive on signs, and other communities whose rules are morelax.

“You don’t want the most restrictive, but you also don’t wantthe least restrictive,” said Phillips, adding that the city’szoning ordinances will be reviewed.

The process is expected to begin in about a week or so. Phillipsand Becker were eager to begin, as the sign concerns threaten toworsen.

“We are all in agreement to proceed with some haste,” Beckersaid.

Panel members mentioned that previous efforts were unsuccessfulin part because of some business owners’ reluctance to move theirsigns because a competitor’s sign. Becker said improved signefforts will take a united, concerted willingness to adhere to goodsign ordinances.

“The bottom line is beautification, neatness and cleanliness,”Becker said.

Phillips also said cooperation is needed and alluded to theeconomic importance that the businesses have on Brookhaven.

“The business community is what generates tax dollars, so weneed to work with them,” Phillips said.