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Township suspends enforcement of private political "personal message" sign limits, refers rules to planning commission
Summary
After extensive public comment about election signs, the board voted to send the personal-message sign provisions back to the planning commission and suspend enforcement for signs on private property pending review; residents argued the rules implicate political-speech rights while staff cited legal counsel and public-safety sight-distance concerns.
Harris Township supervisors voted on Oct. 14 to pause enforcement of the "personal message" section of the sign ordinance and to send that portion back to the planning commission for review after a lengthy public discussion and multiple residents' appeals.
Staff explained an amendment adopted earlier in the year (ordinance No. 365) created a permit-free "personal message" sign category limited to 5 square feet and a maximum of three signs per property. With election season underway, staff reported numerous complaints about signs displayed in rights-of-way and questions about whether the limits adequately protect political expression.
A number of residents urged the board to loosen size or quantity limits. Daniel Koonselman, speaking on behalf of the county Republican committee, cited a legal opinion arguing strict limits on political speech on private property are constitutionally suspect. "Any limitation on political speech on private property is a limitation on the First Amendment and inherently unconstitutional," he said.
Board members and staff responded that the township's ordinance was drafted with legal counsel to treat all personal-message signs equally (political or not) and that they had to be content-neutral to survive legal challenge. Supervisors also emphasized safety concerns: large signs near intersections can impede sight lines.
After public testimony and internal discussion, a motion passed to send the personal-message sign regulations back to the planning commission for more detailed consideration of sign size, quantity and setback rules and to suspend enforcement of the personal-message provisions for private property while the planning commission reviews the issue. Enforcement for signs in public rights-of-way (which remain prohibited) was not suspended.
Staff said the planning commission could also propose adjustments to size or setback rules and that the planning commission's findings would come back to the board before any ordinance change. The board did not adopt new limits at the meeting.
