by Jay Lawson
Code Enforcement Officer Andy Getty talked to the Town of Webb Board on Monday, February 15, about temporary signage clutter and what is allowed and what is prohibited by the local sign ordinance.
Getty said his office has received complaints about temporary signs being posted around the Town of Webb.
Garage Sale and Yard Sale signs are generally not going to attract much attention from the Code Enforcement Office, Getty said.
Those tend to be posted and taken down quickly, according to the brief nature of those types of sales.
Craft sales, bake sales and other events held by “community service organizations” can post any number of signs on the event property, but signage may not be posted along the roadways.
Getty suggested that those organizations take advantage of opportunities to post signs in the windows of businesses, such as restaurants and retail shops.
Road signs are not allowed to be erected without a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, he said.
Getty recommended that such a variances be sought, as one option.
Another option would request of the Town Board that it change the ordinance to more specifically address this kind of signage issue.
Councilwoman Kate Russell said previous discussions led her and others to believe that temporary signs could be posted on private property with the permission of the property owner.
Getty admitted that in suggesting the measure, he was trying to allow some give and take, which he felt made sense for that particular time.
But this was not proper as a long-term solution, he said.
A strict interpretation of the law doesn’t allow for event signs to be anyplace but on the property of the event, he said.
That has been confirmed by Town Attorney Richard Frye, according to Getty.
Getty said he would encourage any Community Service Organization to first take their request to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
If a variance were to be granted, it would be effective for every year that they would hold their event.
If a variance were to be denied, the applicant would be in a position to explore other options.
