Senior Planner Jeanine Harrington and La Plata Director of Planning Jeremy Hurlbutt listen to speakers at the La Plata Planning Commission public hearing on the town’s new sign code Aug. 3.
La Plata, MD – There were only two speakers at the Town of La Plata Planning Commission public hearing on the town’s proposed sign code Wednesday, Aug. 3, but the gist of what they heard was enough to make them possibly reconsider certain aspects of the new regulations.
Jennifer James of La Plata told the board they had done a good job working on the sign ordinance.
“I love most of it,” James said. “Some of it, especially temporary signs, are going to get the town in trouble.”
She referred to temporary signage used at La Plata High School to indicate when the school’s pool is open.
It is a moveable sign, she noted.
“The way it went into the code, this sign can’t be there,” James explained. “Also, the code says the sign has to be 20 feet back. It will never be seen. That sign is the only way we know the pool is open. That verbiage needs to be tweaked. There needs to be an exception.”
She said that the code’s recommendations for temporary signs during election season is too vague.
“Anyone with a Trump or Clinton sign in their yard is in violation,” she said. “It needs to be reworded.”
She also assailed the code’s stance on banners, saying that such advertisement does make a difference when the town is hosting a large event like Oktoberfest.
“The first year with no banner, it did well,” James stated. “But the second year, we had a banner and it brought an estimated 3,000 people to La Plata. How else do you get the word out?”
She said the Maryland Department of Transportation and SMECO hold the right of way above the street, and hinted that town ordinance shouldn’t apply.
“It is hurting business when it could be helping our town,” James asserted.
She also insisted that real estate agents should be allowed to use balloons on temporary signs for their monthly open houses which are really special events.
John Flatly, owner of the town’s Chic fil A restaurant, said banners help to bring in business and said the process is there to help the town, but that it needs to be addressed.
La Plata Planning Commission Chair Debra Posey asked for the record to be held open until Aug. 12.
She said they would review comments and make recommendations to the town council for approval at its next meeting.
“I would like to look at the concerns expressed tonight that our citizens have brought up,” Posey said.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com