WeMAR’s Comments to Peoria City Council – Sign Ordinance

Peoria Az City Council Chambers

September 19, 2017, Susan Nicolson and I presented comments to the Peoria City Council shortly after Staff had presented the proposed draft sign ordinance. I appreciate Susan taking time to present comments from the perspective of an active agent representing her clients well. City Council members need to hear the real world affects of this ordinance on REALTORS®, property owners, businesses and residents.

Susan Nicolson – DRP Realty

We will discuss this and other sign ordinances at our next Government Affairs meeting on September 28th. Please join us at 3pm.

WeMAR’s Comments to Peoria City Council:

Is there anything more joyous than seeing balloons and streamers leading up a path to a children’s birthday party? Or seeing a large banner announcing, “Welcome Home” to a military member?

We love these sights, and I’ll bet you do too. But as we read the proposed sign ordinance it appears these and other signs will be prohibited. Even blue and gold star banners displayed in a window. WeMAR questions the necessity for government to prohibit and regulate personal expressions of joy, pride and sorrow.

We appreciate the provision for temporary signage at each entrance to a neighborhood, but are concerned this is not adequate signage for the task. Whether the signage is for an open house, garage sale, movie in the park or other event, a sign at the entrance simply directs traffic into the neighborhood.

While there is a provision for resident right of way signage, the wording limits its use to “adjacent” to the property. This effectively renders temporary directional signage using the right of way as un-usable. We suggest allowing a sign at each location a change in direction is needed in order to efficiently arrive at the destination.

WeMAR is concerned for small business located in “secret” shopping centers, industrial centers and multi building complexes. These businesses are dependent on and reliant on signs at the entrance. Think about driving down Thunderbird and trying to locate a small business in one of the retail centers at 83rd Ave and Thunderbird.

We question the compelling government interest in regulating helpful signage inside a retail/industrial/multifamily or other commercial center. Multiple stores or buildings with wall facing several directions may need directionals and additional wall signage to efficiently guide traffic and identify location.

We appreciate Table 4A being amended. And we believe limiting signage to outside the visual triangle should alleviate concerns for unmanageable numbers of signs at corners.

We request the proposed ordinance be amended to allow condo owners, apartment owners, and other property owners with no access to a yard visible to passersby to post “for sale” or “for lease” signs in property windows.

In our written remarks, we outline our suggestions for wording table headers so that all property owners are allowed to post “for sale” or “for lease” signs.

WeMAR is concerned that signage be adequate, visible and legible. We support using the science of the visual arc to help determine adequate signage. Businesses located on busy streets may require more or larger signs than businesses located more visible, less congested areas.

Property owners and agents trying to direct traffic to their location need signs along public right of ways in order to efficiently direct traffic to their location. Think about directing traffic to a home at 87th Ave & Peoria versus Vistancia or West Wing. Now think about directing traffic to the area of the 6500 homes north of Vistancia soon to be built.

We appreciate the time and work staff has put into simplifying the sign ordinance. We are pleased staff has taken into consideration comments from WeMAR and other stakeholders. You received copies of our written comments. If you have questions or wish clarification on our position or comments, please call or email me.

Thank you for your time.