Council signs off on revised signage bill
Chamber upset over new law
By Bryan Sears
bsears@patuxent.com
Posted 11/12/08
A compromise to regulate electronic, changeable copy signs doesn’t go far enough for local business leaders.
“Baltimore County is restricting small business owners from promoting their businesses,” said Keith Scott, president and chief executive officer of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce.
The council unanimously approved a bill limiting sign changes at its Nov. 3 meeting after a 4-3 vote in favor of an amendment to allow the signs to change once every 15 seconds.
The original bill called for no more than one change every 30 minutes. The county Planning Board recommended once an hour.
“I’m not sure we could have gone to less time without having the bill fail, and we needed the clarification because the law was somewhat ambiguous,” said Councilman Sam Moxley, who along with three others sponsored the 15-second time limitation.
Moxley is a Democrat who represents the 1st District, including Catonsville and Arbutus.
The regulations prohibit the signs from using scrolling or animated messages, video or strobe effects.
The signs cannot be used in rural areas or historic districts.
The law takes effect in 45 days.
Proponents testified that the signs are ugly. The signs also posed a safety hazard for motorists who could be distracted by the lights and motion, they said, though no one offered any studies to back those claims.
Business leaders said they would prefer a law allowing one change every three seconds.
Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, a Democrat who represents the 2nd District, including Pikesville, Owings Mills and Ruxton, said allowing signs to change every 15 seconds was “too fast.”
Kamenetz, along with councilmen Bryan McIntire and Ken Oliver, voted against Moxley’s amendment.
Todd Huff, operations manager for Brooks-Huff Tire & Auto Centers in Towson and Hunt Valley, was frustrated with what he called a compromise vote.
Huff said the sign in front of his business on York Road in Towson frequently features rotating messages that scroll or are highlighted with flashing lights.
“That’s all gone now,” he said, noting that only static messages are now permitted.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott said small business owners “don’t get a fair shake when compared with larger, national businesses” with large budgets for advertising.
Kamenetz did not agree.
“What other jurisdiction in the state allows businesses to have unfettered signs?” he asked.
“Baltimore County is restricting small business owners from promoting their businesses,” said Keith Scott, president and chief executive officer of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce.
The council unanimously approved a bill limiting sign changes at its Nov. 3 meeting after a 4-3 vote in favor of an amendment to allow the signs to change once every 15 seconds.
The original bill called for no more than one change every 30 minutes. The county Planning Board recommended once an hour.
“I’m not sure we could have gone to less time without having the bill fail, and we needed the clarification because the law was somewhat ambiguous,” said Councilman Sam Moxley, who along with three others sponsored the 15-second time limitation.
Moxley is a Democrat who represents the 1st District, including Catonsville and Arbutus.
The regulations prohibit the signs from using scrolling or animated messages, video or strobe effects.
The signs cannot be used in rural areas or historic districts.
The law takes effect in 45 days.
Proponents testified that the signs are ugly. The signs also posed a safety hazard for motorists who could be distracted by the lights and motion, they said, though no one offered any studies to back those claims.
Business leaders said they would prefer a law allowing one change every three seconds.
Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, a Democrat who represents the 2nd District, including Pikesville, Owings Mills and Ruxton, said allowing signs to change every 15 seconds was “too fast.”
Kamenetz, along with councilmen Bryan McIntire and Ken Oliver, voted against Moxley’s amendment.
Todd Huff, operations manager for Brooks-Huff Tire & Auto Centers in Towson and Hunt Valley, was frustrated with what he called a compromise vote.
Huff said the sign in front of his business on York Road in Towson frequently features rotating messages that scroll or are highlighted with flashing lights.
“That’s all gone now,” he said, noting that only static messages are now permitted.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott said small business owners “don’t get a fair shake when compared with larger, national businesses” with large budgets for advertising.
Kamenetz did not agree.
“What other jurisdiction in the state allows businesses to have unfettered signs?” he asked.
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