Resident tells planning commission signs are blocking sightlines at Tuscarora Pike intersection

Corey Rodriguez, a Martinsburg resident, told the Berkeley County Planning Commission that signs placed near the intersection of Showers Lane and Tuscarora Pike are blocking sightlines and creating safety concerns for drivers attempting to see cross traffic.

Rodriguez said he lives on Little Mill Road and presented photographs showing that campaign or development signs placed along the right of way obstruct views to the right, making it difficult to judge approaching vehicles. “We have a constant issue with people putting signs up that impede your view when we look to the right,” Rodriguez said. He added that motorists on Dell Orchard often treat the stop sign as a yield and that blocked visibility increases risk.

Planning staff acknowledged the concern and suggested staff would contact the developer to confirm whether the signs were sited in the county or Department of Highways right of way. “Maybe we can speak to the developer about placing signs in a right of way that impedes vision on Tuscarora Pike,” a staff member said. Commissioners noted that campaign signs generally are not permitted in the Department of Highways right of way and that some sign placement may be performed by subcontractors who install temporary weekend signs for multiple builders.

Why it matters: blocked sightlines at intersections are a public-safety issue for drivers and pedestrians; where signs or other obstructions are located in a public right of way they may be subject to removal or relocation by the responsible agency.

Follow-up and next steps

Planning staff said they would contact the developer about the signs and that photographs provided to staff showed the signs were not present on the day staff checked the location. The chair asked staff to follow up with Mr. Rodriguez directly.

Ending: The commission took no formal regulatory action at the meeting; staff committed to follow up with the developer and the resident.