Home
·2 min read

“Hard to regulate tacky” – DBPA hears public comment at meeting on signs

By ELIZABETH SINCLAIR 

INTERSECTION OF  U.S. 331 S AND U.S. 90, both Florida State roads and location of the Blue Star Marker, honoring America's armed Forces, boasts a plethora of political and business signs. The DeFuniak Springs Business and Professional Association (DBPA) hosted an informal sign meeting June 16.  Members of the city's sign committee and a couple of dozen citizens were there as well. (Photo by Donna Davis)
INTERSECTION OF  U.S. 331 S AND U.S. 90, both Florida State roads and location of the Blue Star Marker, honoring America’s armed Forces, boasts a plethora of political and business signs. The DeFuniak Springs Business and Professional Association (DBPA) hosted an informal sign meeting June 16.  Members of the city’s sign committee and a couple of dozen citizens were there as well. (Photo by Donna Davis)

DeFuniak Springs, Fla– “It’s hard to regulate tacky.” Robert Nelson summed up the feelings of many of the participants at the DeFuniak Springs Business and Professional Association (DBPA) hosted an informal sign meeting June 16.  Members of the city’s sign committee and a couple of dozen citizens were there as well.
Of primary concern was the number of yard-type political signs that seem to grow overnight along the streets and roadsides. As it turns out some can be regulated. Under Florida statute (479.11(8),)no signs can be placed in the right-of-way of any state highway, including medians shoulders, and poles. This requires enforcement by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Removal and storage of political signs is the FDOT’s responsibility. An election year is a busy time and City Interim Manager Tilman Mears said he is working on an agreement with FDOT to allow DeFuniak City workers to remove these signs within the city limits.  It was pointed out that politicians aren’t the only offenders; businesses and, unfortunately, misplaced Walton Braves sign contribute to the problem.
Jon Kinsey said the clutter of these yard-type signs is an aesthetic issue; the corridors into town should be inviting and that businesses using this means of advertising “is kind of cheating.” It was then brought up by others that there are 13 church signs along U.S. 90 coming into DeFuniak Springs from the west. A possible solution might be to place them all on a fence off the road.
In 2012, at the advice of the then-standing sign committee and research into other cities’ sign ordinances, the then-standing city council eliminated the city’s standing sign ordinance. The standing ordinance was considered too restrictive and was essentially negated and left for a future ordinance. In April 2015 the city council establish a sign committee to help determine new sign ordinance. Clarifications are needed between permanent and temporary signs, size and structure.
Robert McKnight stated his concerns about permanent signs: legibility, color contrast, size, font and lighting. Also brought up were temporary event signs and a time to remove them.
This DBPA meeting was to allow the public, business owners and the sign committee to hear their input. Suggestions for a sign ordinance continue.