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Pasco Commission Considering Electronic Signs

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: October 3, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - County commissioners wondered if the lights should be turned off on electronic message board signs or if some kind of compromise is possible.

That was just one of the issues as the commissioners try to get a grip on the clutter of signs along area roads.

Some have called it "sight blight," Commission Chairwoman Ann Hildebrand said.

So tighter regulations were recently introduced, with public hearings coming up in December.

Some newer schools already flash messages on electronic boards, Commissioner Michael Cox noted. So he wondered why the county would deny the same privilege to businesses.

Perhaps the electronic signs could be allowed, but the county could limit how often the message can change, Cox suggested.

Gas stations, for example, might benefit from an electronic sign to display prices, Cox continued. That would certainly seem easier – especially with the rapid fluctuations in gas prices – than the old method of employees using a long pole to hoist plastic numbers and other lettering onto a standard gas station sign.

"That's a good point," Commissioner Jack Mariano said. He doesn't want electronic signs constantly flashing new messages but, with limits, he would like to give small businesses some flexibility.

But the review of sign rules already has been "excruciating," Commissioner Ted Schrader said, and he fears reopening a Pandora's box of discussion at this point.

"Trust me, we've been down this path so many times," Schrader said.

In other sign issues, Cox observed that the sign for one new restaurant might shrink from 150 square feet to 32 square feet under new rules.

"That's a big difference," Cox remarked.

Other proposed changes include:

n The shape of a ground monument sign would no longer be restricted to a box or rectangle.

n The size of the sign would be determined by building size, not frontage, in most cases. A single building could have a sign between 32 and 64 square feet, plus the frame. Multitenant buildings could have signs up to 200 square feet, plus the frame.

n Parcels with 600 or more square feet of frontage could qualify for a second sign.

n An additional real estate sign would be allowed when a home lies along a golf course.

n The definition of abandoned signs would be clarified, as well as persons responsible for violations.

The changes in sign rules will go first to the Citizens Ordinance Review Committee on Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Residents will get two chances to comment at public hearings Dec. 4 in Dade City and Dec. 18 in New Port Richey.

Commissioners are scheduled to make a final decision after the second public hearing Dec. 18.

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