Signs, signs, everywhere are signs…
So I am curious about something. Off premise signs. Noticed a couple on 10th. The only kind of off premise signs mentioned in the sign code are directional. Does that mean only directional off premise signs are allowed? Are off premise signs allowed without regulation if they are not directional? They exist, and have no mention in the code.
Example. Bostons Pizza. On the Columbia Paint sign. Not directional. Not on that premise. Not regulated?
Example 2. Big Mouth Barbeque. they have a logo on a small shopping center sign, on 10th, approximately 3 blocks before the Big Mouth Store. Not directional.
Now especially in the case of Big Mouth, I have an issue. “One off premise directional sign may be allowed for a business whose location is not visible and accessible to motoring public from a major arterial street ”
Big Mouth has a store on a very busy corner of one of the most traveled streets in the state.
They have adequate signage on the premise.
They do not need an off premise sign. They do not need an off premise directional sign. They already have the big trailer, (used, of course, for its intended purpose) parked out front, and that does not count against its signage.
Bostons I guess I could understand, IF it was directional. But it does not help you find the business does it? If you pull into the lot where the sign is, can you get to Bostons? (That’s a real question, I don’t know.)
Anyhow, I don’t understand how you can claim the sign code reduces any clutter if it doesn’t require you to follow it.
BullFrog Spas is no longer next to Big Mouth, yet not only is their sign still up, we now have new, unneeded signs in two locations on 10th.
Improve Great Falls’ community image how? By eliminating sign clutter!
Whatever.
7 Responses to “Signs, signs, everywhere are signs…”
1 ZenPanda 14 May 2008 @ 4:02 am
Yes, you can get to Boston’s from where the sign is on 10th…it’s just not very obvious.
I figured the Big mouth sign on 18th st was for the catering/business management part of the businesses not the restaurant.
Yes, clean up the damn signs!
2 mary jolley 14 May 2008 @ 7:43 am
The city has ONE code inforcer person. In budget sessions there is a thought to fund a position for another person too. The Budget is far from being a document the commission can vote on. We shall see how things progress.
3 wolfpack 14 May 2008 @ 8:07 am
My favorite directional sign is the Loading Zone’s parking sign. The sign is huge and tells us the obvious, that the parking lot adjoining the business is for parking. The sign may be legal but it was obviously put up with the sole intent of being a second pole sign.
From my interactions with the “Sign Enforcement Officer” he is complaint driven and doesn’t go looking for problems.
4 david 14 May 2008 @ 9:44 am
Mary - thanks for staying in touch and visiting the blogs.
My two cents: I would rather the City use money to fund another police officer, or something that can help with criminal activity — not sign code enforcement. Yes, I know that the sign code needs to be enforced — but if it comes down to another sign enforcer or another police officer or fire-fighter — no contest.
5 gffirefly 14 May 2008 @ 6:54 pm
I still feel Bostons is an off premise sign.
I question if an additional Sign Code Enforcement dude is really needed. Community Development resources as a whole, with a guy to spearhead, should be sufficent.
Wolfpack, regardless of its permit, I do not see how it can be considered legal.
David, I agree, if the money could be spent that way. However, I do not see it as “should we hire a cop, or enforce the code”. Community Development is pretty self supporting. You can get an idea here: http://www.greatfallsmt.net/people_offices/fiscal/budget/budget08/financials.pdf
or here http://search.blossom.com/query/243/keepdups/p101?key=sign%20code
second link.
Community Development fund and Permit fund both apparently have reserves.
The Permits Fund is administered by the Community Development Director. This fund provides staff and resources necessary to provide for the health, safety and welfare of our community by ensuring buildings are constructed or repaired in compliance with codes adopted by the City of Great Falls and
the State of Montana.
The expenditures of this fund are fully supported by the following service fees:
• Building Permit Fees
• Plumbing and Electrical Permit Fees and
• Gas, Mechanical and Sign Permit Fees
The Permits Fund is mandated by State Law to be used only for building department related activities and allows us a reserve, for the lean years, which cannot exceed operational costs of the division for a twelve month period.
6 Wolfpack 15 May 2008 @ 9:36 am
Maybe it all has more to do with who eats and drinks where then it has to do with what’s legal per the city code.
David, The cop/fireman test for budgeting would soon leave us a safe city that nobody would want to live in.
7 firefly 16 May 2008 @ 7:12 am
Cool. Literally overnight, the Marco Polos sign had the faces and lamps pulled, and it is now blue from head to toe.
Leave a Reply