Lights Out For Electronic Signs In Stuart

[Erik Sine]

By Rachel Simmonsen

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

STUART — The city is pulling the plug on lighted signs that flash, blink, rotate or scroll messages.

City commissioners agreed Monday night that the electronic message boards are unsightly and add to traffic jams by distracting drivers.

"I don't think it's an epidemic right now, but it gets easily out of hand," Mayor Michael Mortell said. "This keeps the flashing, rolling neon from littering our streets."

Before Monday's unanimous vote, city code allowed the message boards, but businesses were banned from using them for anything other than static messages.

The new ordinance, which takes effect immediately, outlaws the electronic message signs completely.

Development Director Monica Graziani said city staff couldn't regulate signs once they were installed, and many businesses were breaking the rules.

"We just thought it would be easier to eliminate them altogether," she said.

Under the new ordinance, businesses that already have the electronic message boards can keep them until 2011. Those that were damaged in recent hurricanes also may be repaired, but not replaced, until that date.

Jim Crum, with Daktronics Inc., a scoreboard and lighted sign maker, said smaller, static signs that are not as well-lit cause more traffic problems.

The city's ban also will hurt local sign contractors and other businesses, who rely on electronic message signs to draw customers, Crum said.

"The world is not coming to an end," Mortell countered. "We're just talking about taking out a few scrolling signs along U.S. 1."

Right now, the city has fewer than 10 electronic message signs, Graziani said.

Before the commission's second and final vote on the matter Monday night, city staff contacted all the businesses that have those signs. Graziani said she received only positive input on the ordinance.

City leaders probably will consider other changes to the sign code in the coming months in an effort to ensure that fewer signs are damaged in future hurricanes.

[Travis]

Thats a little harsh. In my area we are allowed message centers but arent allowed flashing or scrolling signs either. But they can change messages every 15 seconds and it has to be an immediate change. No scroll or anything like that.

[Erik Sine]

That's the way it is here also in San Diego. We use to have revolving & flashing signs, but no longer. A few still exist and are Grandfathered in. It all went down to a traffic accident her in Pacific Beach. A lady ran a red light and hit someone pretty bad. She blamed it on the distraction of a rotationg sign and since then no more signs in those category. Stoopid broad

[joemomma]

Boone County, Ky is pretty much like Travis' area. 5 seconds instead of 15. No rotating, revolving, whirling signs, no lights scrolling, flashing, or as the ordinance puts it "no illusion of moving objects". But the process for obtaining a permit for one would make the pope cuss. State Dept. of Transportation permit, geological survey map showing sign, an 8x10 photograph from every thoroughfare visible from the sign with the sign clearly marked, permission from all adjoining (including across the street) property owners, a conditional use permit which costs from $500 to over $1000 besides the sign and building and electric permits, etc. etc. etc. I'd get so mad during the process, I don't think I could sell one. Shit, I'm steaming just thinking about it.

[Dwight]

Here in Victoria B.C. , no animated, scroll, or flashing, allowed by city by-laws, exept, of course the HUGH (12' X 30") two sided LED sign on our new arena, half owned by the city.

They wrote an exeption to the by-law to exclude their own sign!!!!! lol.

Dwight