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Carefree council reinstates enforcement of temporary sign rules
Summary
After staff outlined enforcement gaps with sidewalk 'sandwich' boards and temporary banners, council voted to direct staff to enforce Article 8 sign provisions; staff noted limits (signs not on town property, max four temporary banner permits per business per year, one-month permit duration) and recommended outreach and facade-program support for businesses.
The Carefree Town Council voted to direct staff to enforce existing temporary sign regulations in Article 8 of the town zoning ordinance following a staff presentation on sidewalk and banner sign problems.
Stacy Bridge Dunsack, the town's community development director, summarized the main enforcement concerns: multiple sandwich-board signs per business, improper placement on town property or the public right-of-way, and horizontal banners that have been treated like permanent signage. She told the council that temporary banner permits are limited to a maximum of four per business per year and that temporary signs are intended to be issued for one month. "So the question is would we like it to focus on how you would like us to reinstate enforcement of sandwich board signs per the current regulations," she said.
Council members and business owners discussed alternatives to a proliferation of sandwich boards, including promoting storefront window displays, revitalizing monument signage and kiosks, and using a facade program to help businesses transition. Several business owners told the council that A-frame plastic sandwich boards add clutter and often do not meaningfully increase foot traffic; one business owner said he gets more customers from well-maintained front windows than from an A-frame. The council approved an even-handed approach: notify businesses, offer assistance (facade program and kiosks) and return to stricter enforcement.
