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Temporary Street Signs - Essential or Eyesore?

Do small signs at intersections or on road shoulders enhance your lead generation efforts?

If the answer is YES......... You might want to read this story.

The Richland County Appearance Commission is a beautification advocacy group that seeks to improve and enhance the overall appearance of Richland County (Columbia, SC).

What is their view of the small, temporary signs?

STREET SPAM!

"These signs are blights on our community," said Olde Woodlands resident Doug Currier.

"They are key to our business," countered Lake Carolina developer David Tuttle.

By a 6-4 vote, The Richland County Council agreed with The Appearance Commission and plans to start removing and destroying signs.

Should small, temporary road signs be banned or legalized?

The next meeting on this issue is currently scheduled for April 7.

Regardless your position......... Let your voice be heard.

You can comment on this post or attend Tuesday's meeting.

Posted by Columbia SC Homes for Sale by David Patterson on 04/06/2009 11:11 AM

Comments (11)

richland county council, richland county appearance commission, ban on temporary street signs, olde woodlands, lake carolina columbia sc

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11 Comments on Temporary Street Signs - Essential or Eyesore?

APR

It's one thing when you are doing an open house, but I'm not a fan of signs that are out just to generate calls. Even the open house signs in our community all must be the same color - green. I think there is a compromise in here somewhere. Good luck!

Locally here in Northern Virginia, the practice is that signs can go up on Friday afternoon/evening and have to come down by Sunday evening. Any signs that are left up during the business week are subject to destruction and some municipalities also charge a fine.

I attended the last meeting, and I will likely be at the next. There has been a lot of buzz around here about all of this and it will be interesting to see how it all pans out.

I have no problem with the signs and not because I am in the business. Are they only targeting real estate directionals from licensed companies, or everybody?

David, everyone wants the signs gone, until they need their own home sold and can't get any traffic.

APR

There are always those that ruin things for everyone else and this appears to be the case here. I know signs here are banned but exceptions are generally made for real estate but can be limited by number and duration, especially open house signs.

Its definately an eye sore but I'm not sure banning them by law is a good answer either. I think temporary signs may be the answer but I'm not sure how you would police that. No easy answer.

APR

I know in Clearwater and Pasco County the government workers take your signs - even open house ones with the date and time on them! I can't tell you how depressing it is to realize you have been sitting in a vacant house with no signs pointing to you!!!

APR

David - Like Mark said, they are targeting real estate. Columbia is an eyesore to me, not because of the real estate signs, but because of all the other signs on the corners and at intersections. Greenville did away with them years ago. An directional/open house sign can be put out on a Friday night but must be removed before 8 AM Monday morning. Don't cross your fingers that the council will not enact some new code. And it will be well enforced against the real estate community but the other signs will stay!

Mary

MAY

Annoying, sad and hilarious all at the same time!

Control of signs and signage are a huge problem, especially when ordinances start prohibiting them. Compare open house signs to yard sale signs and the directional signs for each. Every weekend there are signs all over for yard sales--should those be banned? What about balloons and ribbons? In every community, there are people who drive around every weekend looking for either yard sales or open house signs (not the same people). Before I had a GPS, I would get lost without the directional signs. Yeah, I'm direction impaired. Do we want to lose these potential customers?

I used to own a homemade ice cream shop. During the 6 years I was open, I NEVER had a sign out with my logo because it didn't fit the sign ordinance. It is detrimental to business when you can't have signs that represent your business. If you think about it, as Realtors, we all have our own business and need to advertise when we have a product to sell. We spend good money on signs to promote and differentiate ourselves.

I like the idea of allowing signs from Friday afternooneveing until Sunday evening. Makes sense to me.

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