Comments on: Letter to the Editor: A Clear Example of What's Wrong with the Sign Ordinance http://orcasissues.com/letter-to-the-editor-a-clear-example-of-whats-wrong-with-the-sign-ordinance Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:32:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Michael Hurwicz http://orcasissues.com/letter-to-the-editor-a-clear-example-of-whats-wrong-with-the-sign-ordinance#comment-527 Michael Hurwicz Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:44:34 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7706#comment-527 If you want to read the code, go to the following URL and click "Unified Dev Code": http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/planning/default.aspx The relevant provision reads: "1. Off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall not be allowed." If you want to read the code, go to the following URL and click “Unified Dev Code”:
http://www.co.san-juan.wa.us/planning/default.aspx

The relevant provision reads:

“1. Off-premises outdoor advertising signs shall not be allowed.”

]]> By: Michael Hurwicz http://orcasissues.com/letter-to-the-editor-a-clear-example-of-whats-wrong-with-the-sign-ordinance#comment-526 Michael Hurwicz Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:28:28 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7706#comment-526 Actually, I believe 18.40.370 covers areas outside Eastsound. The area in question is inside Eastsound. The regulations for Eastsound (which are much more restrictive) are in UDC 16.55.300D. Actually, I believe 18.40.370 covers areas outside Eastsound. The area in question is inside Eastsound. The regulations for Eastsound (which are much more restrictive) are in UDC 16.55.300D.

]]> By: Jeff Otis http://orcasissues.com/letter-to-the-editor-a-clear-example-of-whats-wrong-with-the-sign-ordinance#comment-107 Jeff Otis Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:42:20 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7706#comment-107 Sadie,

Having worked at the panning department for 12 years I can answer you questions:

1) Are there provisions that would allow Mai-Lan to display a sign for her restaurant on the street corner leading to it?

No, off premise commercial signs are prohibited.

If not; why not?
Because it’s the law. That’s sort of like asking a police officer why you can’t go 70 mph in a 35 mph zone.

2) Can Mai-Lan apply for a permit to have her sign there without fearing its regular removal?

No. You can’t get a permit for something that is not allowed.

3) If a private property owner gives permission for someone to put up a sign on her property, isn’t that out of the jurisdiction of the county sign ordinance?

It’s not allowed and it is within the County’s jurisdiction. The County regulates land use, which inlcudes signage, on all public and private land within the County.

4) How does a business owner like Mai-Lan find out about what is permissible, and would a letter from the landowner to the Planning Department suffice in giving her amnesty from a sign ordinance that will kill her business if she is not allowed to have a sign where she needs one?

Go to the County website and download the Unified Development Code (UDC). Go to section 18.40.370. That’s the sign ordinance.

All businesses can put a sign on the building they operate out of. To do something different than what’s allowed by the sign ordinance, you must change the law. Changing the law is not as difficult as it sounds. There is a process which allows anyone to request changes. If you really want to be proactive, then you should contact the planning department regarding how to start the process. Your best chance at changing the law would be if the request for a change to the sign ordinance was sponsored by a large section of the business community and supported by the Chamber of Commerce. Having strong support from the public at large would help too.

Hope this helps!

Jeff Otis

]]> By: Leslie Ginnes http://orcasissues.com/letter-to-the-editor-a-clear-example-of-whats-wrong-with-the-sign-ordinance#comment-106 Leslie Ginnes Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:44:15 +0000 http://orcasissues.com/?p=7706#comment-106 This is so sad. The signs were one of the first things I loved about Orcas when I first came 15 years ago. I have benefited by them, I have used them for my events. They are the Town Crier. They are so Orcas. This is so sad. The signs were one of the first things I loved about Orcas when I first came 15 years ago. I have benefited by them, I have used them for my events. They are the Town Crier. They are so Orcas.

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