Mayor William Stortz is aiming to rein in the proliferation of political signs.
Stortz said he would like to see a city ordinance that would block candidates from putting signs on city property.
The goal isn't to keep politicians from putting up signs at Page Park or South Side School, which doesn't happen.
Instead, it would keep signs off the city-owned right of way strips that line municipal roads all over town.
Stortz said the law could bar signs between the sidewalk and the street or could order they be placed at least 6 to 8 feet back from the curb.
He said the main problem with the signs now is that many of them inadvertently block the line of sight for drivers at intersections or pulling out of driveways.
It's not just political signs, either, the mayor said.
He said the ones that bother him most are temporary signs lining the roads that plug a sale in a surrounding town, which doesn't even help a Bristol business.
Stortz said imposing a rule that doesn't discriminate against anyone or prevent political signs from going up would pass legal muster and address a problem.
He said requiring "a little more uniformity" in the placement of signs would keep them away from the pavement, keep them out of vacant lots owned by the city and enhance the safety of residents.
"It will make the city a little neater," Stortz added.
He said he hopes the new law could be in place before next year.
A side benefit, the mayor said, is that political signs placed further from the road would be safer from thieves and vandals.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
9 comments:
Stortz - your suggestions are meaningless just like your administration. Stop wasting ink
According to Zoppo vandals were going up on the lawns taking her signs. So I guess the point of vandals by Stortz is incorrect. Signs go up every 2 years, how about business signs - that is what you should be looking at.
The ordinance would cover all signs, not just political ones (which would probably be unconsitutional anyway).
How about removing those "HUGE" Johnson for Mayor signs that are springing up all over town. They seem kind of big to me. What is the legal size of a political sign in a residential area? If they can be as big as someone wants, why doesn't every candidate have huge signs?
Stortz, I didn't hear you complaining about the signs when it was yours on the lawns! You only have a couple more months left! Why try to do something now? Could it be because your party didnt want you and your just a bitter person?
I love the one sideness of some of the posters on this site. To the person who is whining about the size of Johnson signs I guess you missed the big Ward signs that are around town. Let's be fair here and agree to try and keep things positive. Let's talk about issues and how those running for mayor plan on making Bristol better.
I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss this proposal. Is there anyone who drives in this town who has never been bothered by decreased road visibility due to signs of one kind or another? I'd like to see something done about it.
There should be an ordinance banning signs all together.
can we have an ordinance banning politicians?
Post a Comment