DOVER—
The Department of Planning and Community Development wishes to thank local business owners in the City for their compliance with its sign ordinance. This recognition comes after staff held the first “illegal sign sweep of 2012.” The sweep occurred between January 11 and 13. In total, 21 signs were confiscated.
Director of Planning and Community Development, Christopher Parker, announced the clean up of illegal and un-permitted temporary advertising signs throughout the City of Dover on January 3, as part of a winter cleanup around the community. Illegal and un-permitted signs included those on utility poles or in the right of way.
The removal of illegal signs was warranted because the placement of these temporary signs in public rights-of-way and medians of streets, on utility poles and attached to trees is not permitted by Dover’s sign ordinance—potentially causing safety hazards for traveling motorists—and create “a visual blight that is unsightly for residents.” According to town officials, these signs detract from legitimate business signs that have gone through the proper permitting process.
“I am very pleased with our results,” Parker said. “We collected 21 signs, compared to this time last year, when we collected twenty-four. When you consider that the last sweep was over six months ago, it appears that our education and outreach campaign has continued to succeed.”
Furthermore, Assistant City Planner, Timothy Corwin, who along with Parker conducted the sweep, explains that none of the signs collected were from local Dover-based business. The signs collected advertised tree removal, firewood and hot tub sales provided by businesses outside of the community.
“It’s very rewarding to work in a community whose citizens and businesses value such a high quality of life. I’m looking forward to helping Dover maintain that quality of life by reducing clutter with future sign sweeps,” Corwin said.
Business owners who have placed these signs were advised to remove the illegal signs in advance of this clean-up effort. Any sign that was confiscated will be held for 30 days before they are recycled or destroyed, unless the owner claims the sign after paying a reclamation fee. Repeat offenders may be subject to prosecution and additional fines.
This was the fourth sweep conducted by the Planning Department since the summer of 2011. Staff have been monitoring signs and holding the sweeps every few months. At the same time, efforts have been made to reach out to businesses to explain the regulations and safety concerns associated with the placement of signs within the right of way.
For more information please call the Planning Department, at 603-516-6008.
