What is your definition of a "Monument" sign?

Seems that these guys are stuck on this term. Since we have NO CODE, they have decided that they OK everthing as long as it meets their guidelines. Their guidelines are (I think) however they feel at the present time.

I would like to enlighten SOMEONE on this Planning Commission. I say there are sign situations that call for other than what they consider "Monument". (I would think low profile)

I guess I need someone to show me a "Monument" sign that is 40 feet tall or something so I can shove it, well, you know.

AARRGGHH! Go figure.

we all have to live with rules.
in a signshop's case, we all deal with height, construction and design restrictions

the best you can do is present the most detailed drawing as to how you propose to do this signage. i have found if you present logic, the "city" is willing to work with you.

do your research on local codes.

restrictions are there for a purpose.(to keep jacklegg johnny from constructing some hazardous to your health, fall down and hit Q public in the head type sign.)

when in doubt.... ask!
don't be afraid of your local government.

the best of luck.

[ October 01, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]

You mean "Jackleg" Johnny was in Alabama, too?!? Man, that dude really gets around. I just saw him down on Main Street in a 1966 Gran Fury station wagon. Had them hollywoods really sounding loud.

Naw, really, things will be ok after you calm down and take your beating quietly. But seriously, they probably view you as someone who wants to clutter up their town with unnecessary things. You gotta change that perception and it will take a large dose of sensitivity and tact on your part to pull them over to your side. Try to find a common ground of respect, like letting them know your just as interested as they are in maintaining a status of esthetic appropriatness. Did you get that last transmission? You have to use those last two words verbatum in your next encounter - they are committee power words. Work them into the conversation - "Esthetic" and "Appropriatness". They'll go ga-ga.

Actually, the reason that I was at the planning commission was for something going on next to our property... no sign problems for me. Besides that, I know that city staff has been happy with what I am doing and would probably like to see more. So, no one beat me up last night, but I have decided to jump into this and try to make some positive, intelligent suggestions in order to maintain esthetic appropriatness!

Sometimes I think that members of the commission are not aware that there is NO sign code. One member (at a prior meeting) asked staff if there was anything in the code that would prevent a business from advertising a "sub" business...in this instance, a Radio Shack would advertise US Cellular. Staff came back with "no, there is nothing in the code that would prevent that". I thought that statement was very misleading as one might think (after hearing the answer) that there actually was a sign code.

I sat on a committee 2 years ago that eventually would have drafted a sign code. When they organized the committee, I think they figured it would take about 1 or 2 meetings to write a code. As they began to consider that there was more to this than they had originally thought, they disbanded or "the need for a sign code at this time is not at the top of the to-do list".

Every meeting in the last 2 years since has had some sign issue or question whether it's me or some of my fellow sign makers that is interested in putting up a sign. Actually, I have not been denied anything so far.

The whole thing that got me going was hearing these uninformed people go on about how they had decided that everyone in that particular area of town would have a "monument" sign. To me, monument would suggest something low profile... add this to limited parking and snow removal problems and this type of sign might not be appropriate in every instance.

That sounds great. Any suggestions are more than welcome. I am looking for great examples that not only make my job easier, but also protects the interests of the city as well as my customers or anyone else that has a sign need here.

Geez, can I actually have it all?

http://www.ci.westminster.co.us/AboutYourCity/Cityagenda/Current/ag052101/10a.htm

http://ponchatoula.com/signord.txt

http://www.ci.manhattan-beach.ca.us/commdev/zoning/1072.htm

http://www.ci.mesa.az.us/planning/signord.htm

http://www.ci.valparaiso.in.us/SignOrd/signord.htm

http://www.cityofindustry.org/signcode.htm

http://www.portorchard.com/government/signcode.html

http://search.ackind.net/redlands/3083.html

http://www.rfcity.org/comdev/Proposed%20Ordinances/Sign%20Code%20with%20strikethrough%20for%20CC%20082201_waynes%20changes2.htm

http://www.bookmarki.com/productCat945_1.ctlg

A monument IMHO is something one would find in either a cemetery or in a park-- what has it to do with signage?

Sign codes, or, ordinances-- the catch phrase is a "workable" or practical code. Too often these officials try to model an ordinance after one they have found God only knows where, and most of the time these are not particularly workable. Case in point; the township I live in adopted a land use ordinance several years ago. In it was a section which dealt with signs. To say that this thing is an abortion would be putting it politely. In the last few years, I think I have done a grand total of no more than a half dozen signs in this township. Of course, the well-known outstretched hand is right there when property and school tax time rolls around. These folks will also tell you (me) that the law is not written in stone. Yeah, right. Try to get it changed. Very low on their list of priorities.

In some ways, those of you who don't have a local sign ordinance are lucky in that you almost can't be denied whatever it is you are trying to do.

Regarding the "esthetic appropriateness" -- nice phrase. To too many of these people the word sign is right up there with all the other four letter words in the language. They would rather see no signs at all, and preserve their "viewshed" consisting of open fields, woods, deer romping in the middle of the road, and please, no new houses to clutter up their scenic vistas.