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Digital signs only in development districts approved
But ‘Las Vegas effect' disallowed
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
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Digital signs for businesses can already be found along Route 235 and Route 5, but on Tuesday, the St. Mary's County commissioners voted 4-1 to make them officially sanctioned.
They are only permitted in the county's development districts — Lexington Park, California and Leonardtown — and the town and village centers. They are not permitted in outlying rural areas. Their maximum size permitted is 32 square feet.
To "avoid the Las Vegas effect," the signs won't be allowed to scroll, flash or animate, said Derick Berlage, director of land use and growth management. The length of a message displayed has to be at least 10 seconds.
Not only will the signs be able to identify the business, any sales there and nonprofit messages, they will be able to state anything the owner wishes under the constitutionally protected freedom of speech. "What it actually says is something the county cannot regulate," Berlage said.
Commissioner Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D) first introduced the zoning amendment for digital signs, and said the regulations prohibit "the flashy, glitzy lights," and would allow something "similar to the signs that have already cropped up in the county."
"It's obvious there's a real demand for this," Berlage said, because of the signs that have been erected since the amendment has been evaluated.
Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) voted against the sign approval. He said the county could end up looking like New Jersey.
Mattingly said the issue of signs in general "is somewhat out of control anyway. You look around at the intersection of Route 6 there's six or eight signs all in the right of way advertising events outside of St. Mary's County … and that's just one intersection." The commissioners agreed the zoning ordinance's sign regulations should be reviewed comprehensively.
The digital sign regulations take effect on June 23, Berlage said.
