Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sign Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
HDC advisory committee recommends denial of oversized North Water banner; staff enforcement discussion follows
Summary
The advisory committee recommended denial of a large temporary banner installed at North Water for size and material noncompliance. Staff and members also reviewed a backlog of enforcement cases, including ongoing signage issues and unclear grandfathering records for an older sign.
The HDC advisory committee recommended denial July 15 of an oversized temporary banner that had been installed at a North Water storefront, citing multiple guideline noncompliances including size, material, and location. The committee recorded a motion to deny and discussed enforcement steps and other outstanding signage violations around town.
The applicant for North Water told the committee they had taken the banner down after being contacted; they said they were seeking short-term visibility while operating a summer pop-up. Committee members said the banner was too large for a wall sign area and appeared to function as a business locating banner rather than a short-term event banner permitted under the sign handbook. “I think it’s just too large, and it’s obscuring the entrance to the building,” one member said.
The committee moved to deny the banner; the motion was seconded and recorded with votes in favor. Staff marked the denial for reasons including size noncompliance and material and location concerns and advised the applicant about alternative, smaller on-site options (for example, a small placard or temporary porch display) that would not require a full application for immediate short-term use.
After the North Water discussion, staff and committee members reviewed the committee’s enforcement spreadsheet. Staff reported follow-up notices issued to several commercial properties and ongoing efforts to document a long-standing sign at Aunt Lias, where earlier court action was referenced in staff correspondence but supporting case files were not readily located. Committee members asked staff to check archival records and court files to verify past enforcement outcomes and directed staff to continue standard enforcement procedures, including issuing second notices where necessary.
Next steps: staff will record the advisory denial in the HDC file, pursue outstanding enforcement cases through notice procedures and, where appropriate, coordinate with licensing and police for follow-up. The applicant was advised to consult staff for permitted short-term alternatives ahead of future seasons.
