Bridget Reed Morawski – WMAL
WASHINGTON — (WMAL) A proposed zoning amendment aims to eliminate temporary signs in public rights-of-way in Montgomery County.
Public rights-of-way include highway medians and within 10 feet of the curb.
Complaints regarding the number and location of temporary signs – such as political and commercial signage – have increased in recent months, according to Montgomery County Councilmember George Leventhal, the lead sponsor of the amendment.
The amendment does not effect signs that are on private property.
The signs have already been illegal, but enforcement has been lacking. Currently, it has been up to the discretion of the responsible agency to follow up on complaints and issue notices of violation if the signs have not received a permit. Violators have 30 days to comply with the notice, which Leventhal says isn’t a good enough system.
Under his proposal, which is also co-sponsored by Councilmembers Sidney Katz and Nacy Navarro, the county would be more proactive. Agencies would remove the signs and then notify the offender with a fine to cover the cost of retaining the signs for up to 48 hours after they have been removed.
“The signs are put up without regard to when they should be taken down, and they are visual clutter,” said Leventhal. “They’re distracting to drivers, and they generate complaints.”
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