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onthefence
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Mana: 
:(  Stokesdale is falling into the trap of unsavory development.  We're already sliding down the slippery slope.  Town Council has approved two commercial rezonings on Hwy 68 against the planning board's recommendations.  More are likely to follow.  I haven't any objection to profit ( I hope for a large one myself)  But, inherent to a commercial enterprise is the need for customer attention.  Like a carnival barker, each business has to shout out their existence.  As the number of barkers gets larger,  each has to get louder and bigger or their message is drowned out. 

Look at High Point road.  The signs blot out the sky from the road.  There are so many signs it's hard to find the one, you're looking for. :shock:

Stokesdale already has rules for signs in their ordinance.  (6-1 sign regulations) The rules are being ignored.  (Two Chicks and a Dog have a flashing sign.  - A prohibited type of sign)  The TC has recently decided to abdicate leadership, by saying we'll do nothing... people will complain to the zoning enforcement officer. (read the NWO report on the December meeting)

Ask your Town Council to lead by:

1. Educating businesses of the rules

2. Start enforcing the rules.

The alternative is a blighted look for our town and depressed property values.

macca
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Mana: 
Thanks for the observations, onthefence. Do you have any suggestions as to the best way to communicate with our Council members to let them know what we think?

onthefence
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Mana: 
Macca ... The most personal time intensive is attend the TC meetings.  It is also the most effective method of communicating your views to the TC.

I wonder if the TC looks at this forum?

macca
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Mana: 
Seems as though it would be one way to keep up with what's going on, or what at least some folks are thinking.... We seem to have at least some folks who "look" but maybe don't post....

macca
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Mana: 
onthefence, How do we know what is in violation? Do we just raise the question if we don't happen to like a sign? I mean, I didn't know that the "Chicks" sign was in violation, even though some folks might consider it annoying. How did they get to put it up in the first place if it wasn't in complliance?

Jim Flynt
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Mana: 
macca wrote: onthefence, How do we know what is in violation? Do we just raise the question if we don't happen to like a sign? I mean, I didn't know that the "Chicks" sign was in violation, even though some folks might consider it annoying. How did they get to put it up in the first place if it wasn't in complliance?
Macca, I think they just put it up and didn't ask anyone anything. Much the way that so much around here simply gets done.  If some property owners and property users around here don't respect town council, why should any other citizen? And the answer is: They don't!

onthefence
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Mana: 
macca wrote: onthefence, How do we know what is in violation? Do we just raise the question if we don't happen to like a sign? I mean, I didn't know that the "Chicks" sign was in violation, even though some folks might consider it annoying. How did they get to put it up in the first place if it wasn't in complliance?
 

Knowing the sign requirements is the issue of Education.  The Town Council has to lead the citizens.  Number one of my suggestions. 

Other than TC educating the property owners, one can call the zoning enforcement officer (Guilford county handles for Stokesdale - Grant Gayle 641-5561) or get a copy of Stokesdale's ordinances.

Oakridge went through this same process / Issue.  If we don't get a handle on signs now, the issue will just get more entrenched.  The cost and howls of pain will increase with more time.   Ignoring the problem is like ignoring a cancer.  It'll kill the host.

rasin
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Mana: 
We in Oak Ridge just love that all those tacky signs are gone.  Several acquaintances from outside of Oak Ridge have commented how nice it looks when they pass through.  

After an initial period of whining from a small sub-group of the merchants they realized that Oak Ridge was serious about enforcing the rules and that the town had the support of the citizens.

They said that the sky would fall if they couldn’t put out their banners and signs.  Given how busy the Oak Ridge Commons is that argument didn't carry much weight.

Take a look at the tacky signs that the Bank of Oak Ridge has put up at their Greensboro locations for another example of how glad I am we have the rules.

ff12
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Mana: 
signs, signs , everywhere are signs, mucking up the scenery , dont do this dont do that.

onthefence
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Mana: 
macca wrote: onthefence, How do we know what is in violation? Do we just raise the question if we don't happen to like a sign? I mean, I didn't know that the "Chicks" sign was in violation, even though some folks might consider it annoying. How did they get to put it up in the first place if it wasn't in complliance?
For everyone's knowledge... (I'm typing so pls bear with me)

6-1.2  Prohibited signs

Unless otherwise permitted under this section, the following signs are prohibited in all zoning districts.

(A) Wind blown devices such as pennants, streamers, spinners, ballons ... except as advertising for a temporary event.  (Permit required...)

(B) Animated signs, but not including electronic changeable copy signs.

(C) Portable signs, but not including signs which can't be read from the public right-of-way.

(D) Signs which project over the public right-of-way...

(E) Signs on vehicles parked in a location ...visible from a public right-of-way and for a period of time...

(F) Signs affixed to trees, rocks or other natural features

(G) Signs that imitate traffic control devices

(H) Signs which extend vertically above the highest portion of the roof of any structure.

 

From my first post on the subject..."2 Chicks & a Dog" has flashing lights.  This  makes it an animated sign by definition.  According to the above section.  It is a prohibited type of sign in Stokesdale in multiple clauses.  Animated, portable, possibly in the public right-of-way

Last edited on Jan 30th, 2007 11:42 am by onthefence

ff12
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Mana: 
Spaeking of signs, Bills truck sales sign has been replaced by Shamburg Auto Sales 3 sign . I wonder what that means?????????

Jim Flynt
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Mana: 
ff12 wrote: Spaeking of signs, Bills truck sales sign has been replaced by Shamburg Auto Sales 3 sign . I wonder what that means?????????


Bill Moore (Bill's Truck Sales) has decided to leave retail truck sales and has closed his business. Mr. Shamburg, who used to run the Chevrolet dealership in Walnut Cove (I am told) has picked up the lease for this property and will be opening an automobile and truck sales lot. Bill Moore will be involved in wholesale truck sales from a home office in the immediate future.

 

 

Last edited on Apr 17th, 2007 02:01 am by Jim Flynt

S. Smith
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Mana: 
Won't this be about Shamburg's third location? I know they have one in Kernersville and I think the other one is in Walnut Cove or somewhere like that. But since all this is posted under Signs, is there any problem with the Shamburg sign?

Last edited on Apr 21st, 2007 06:18 pm by S. Smith

ff12
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Mana: 
the sign is fine with me.




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