Historic board votes to send letter asking prior owner to remove Lacosa Nostra sign; staff warns of enforcement options

The Danville Architectural History Board on April 15 voted to draft a letter urging removal of a sign placed by a previous tenant at a downtown building and to copy the city attorney and city manager on the request. The motion, made by John and seconded by Lyn, asks staff to contact the prior owner and request compliance with the city commission’s conditional requirement that the sign be removed when its use is discontinued.

Board members described the sequence: the board originally turned down the sign proposal; the city commission later approved it with the condition that the sign be removed when the tenant no longer occupied the space. Staff told the board the new tenant — a pizza restaurant — does not want to assume responsibility for removing the sign, so staff proposed a letter to the previous owner asking them to comply within 30 days.

The city attorney advised the board there are enforcement levers in the zoning ordinance, including fines for violations and the potential for court action if compliance is not achieved. "There are levers that we can pull," the attorney said, noting enforcement would be a later step if voluntary compliance is not obtained.

The board approved a motion directing staff to draft the letter and to copy the relevant city offices; members discussed whether a second letter should press the city to take responsibility for removal but deferred a final decision.

What happens next

Staff will prepare the draft letter and send it to the prior owner and copy the city attorney and city manager as requested; if the owner refuses, staff noted the city’s zoning ordinance allows fines and eventual legal remedies.