Palm Coast Open House Signs

Realtors and residents met with the City Council last evening to address the City ordinance which forbids the use of directional signs advertising an "Open House" event. The current City Ordinance states:

Sec. 42-41. Location standards--Utility installations.
(a) The primary concern in the design and location of utility installations is protection of the right-of-way and the safety of the highway user. In all cases, full consideration shall be given to sound Engineering principles. (b) Where possible, all longitudinal underground utility facilities should be placed in an area within seven feet inside the outer edge of the right-of-way line except where potable water and sanitary sewers lie along the same side of the road, requiring a separation of ten feet between those utility lines. These, and other similar situations will be considered on a case by case basis. Above ground facilities should be placed at or close as practical to the right-of-way line. Under no condition shall a utilityinstallation interfere with the roadway storm drain system.
(c) Proposed location of poles, fire hydrants, water meters, telephone and cable boxes, etc., should take into consideration future road widening, sidewalk, storm drainage or other construction. Minimum guidelines for roadside recovery area are shown in the State of Florida Department of Transportation Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction and Maintenance for Streets and Highways. Any deviation from those requirements require prior approval by the City.
(d) Water meter boxes and telephone boxes shall be installed flush with or below the ground. If installation must protrude to the extent such boxes may be a hindrance to drainage maintenance or mowing, they must be located within two feet of the right-of-way line whether their parallel line runs along the right-of-way line or not: Water meter boxes, telephone boxes or television cable boxes shall not be placed within the limits of a proposed or existing sidewalk, curb, gutter or bike path.
(e) No person shall place or maintain upon any City roadway any sign or signal bearing thereon any commercial advertising.
(Ord. No. 00-50, § 11, 9-19-00)

The City was reluctant to hear the arguments at first stating that it should have been scheduled for discussion prior to the meeting. The Council was then reminded that it was a discussion that was requested on July 11,2007 and was directed to just arrive and bring it up during the meeting.

Resdients also expressed their concens since Open House events are another possibility to sell their property and directions to drivers is very important. Other arguments included:

• The disposal of signs that have been placed without notifying Brokers or Realtors
• The difference between these signs and the large number of Election Signs which go up each year
• The importance of the Real Estate industry to our local economy
• The duty we have to assist sellers in a difficult market both as Realtors and a local governement

The City argued that changes to the current oridances may "open the road" to other sign use by other organizations either commercial or political. The City then decided that they would agree to meet with FCAR legal counsel to determine how rectify the current situation while still maintaining beautification standards and supporting local real estate sales.