Extra signs allowed

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

The commissioners voted Tuesday to allow each home for sale to have an advertising, directional sign on another property within a 5-mile radius. The planning commission's recommendation was to allow up to three off-site signs within that radius. Each home for sale can have its own sign on the property already, and open house signs are permitted out on weekends.

The commissioners put off a decision on whether to allow digital signs for businesses until next week. Under the real estate sign language, a seller can have a sign up to 18 feet tall, which some of the commissioners questioned. "A homeowner may want a sign 18-feet high," said Yvonne Chaillet, zoning administrator with the St. Mary's department of land use and growth management. "If you're desperate to sell your house, you might."

The proposal to allow the extra signs came from the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors to help buyers find houses for sale. Earlier this month, the association said there were around 950 homes for sale in St. Mary's.

Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) said he wanted to see the county chamber of commerce and the Realtors' association install a computer terminal at the county Welcome Center in Charlotte Hall for buyers to look up homes for sale.

"You can do it from home" on the computer, said Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D). "I don't think we need to turn the Welcome Center into a real estate office."

Digital signs for businesses already exist in some places in St. Mary's, especially along Route 235, but the zoning ordinance doesn't specifically allow them. An amendment would allow them in development districts, town and village centers, but not at existing businesses in the rural preservation district, which is 87 percent of the county's land.

The signs would not be allowed to scroll, flash, blink or shimmer, but they would be able to fade in and out on 10-second intervals. The signs could advertise the business, nonprofit groups or political messages. The amendment would also allow nonprofits without a permanent location to erect a digital sign elsewhere with permission. The size of the electronic signs cannot exceed 32 square feet, regardless of the message.

If approved, "I don't think everybody's going to run out and get one," because "they're not cheap," Mattingly said. He first introduced the amendment on behalf of a constituent.

The electronic signs that have popped up have been respectful and give small businesses a chance to advance sales and awareness, he said.

"Some people find digital signage offensive," Chaillet said.

Commission President Francis Jack Russell (D) said he was concerned electronic signs would flourish and was prepared to vote against them.

Jarboe said looking like Waldorf with digital signs was "too much for me" and he moved to deny the amendment, but there was no second. Commissioner Daniel H. Raley (D) moved to put off the decision until next week. "I don't know if I can vote on this today," he said.

jbabcock@somdnews.com