Bill Adler has been asked to participate in a staff rewrite of permanent changes to the sign code.
Bill points out that to make permanent changes to the sign code without first changing the code language and General Plan language which mandates signs to get the information across "with the least signage possible" (code) and "least intrusive signage possible"(General Plan) creates contradictions that he doesn't believe have been specifically authorized by the Council.
Bill goes on to say that indifference is to be expected, but resisted nonetheless. Of course, all codes - regardless of content - require enforcement. As he said during the budget process, there are services the Town is obliged to provide that are under funded, and one is code enforcement. Every weekend we see temporary signs that are prohibited. If the changes in other signs are approved, more clutter, more offensive visual trash will occur. Within the General Plan one element is the Open Space and Natural Resources section. In it, policy statements on visual quality are outlined. Illuminated signs are now left on til midnight or later, which violates the code, but there is no enforcement. Why change the code to approve signs left on til 10PM ? That won't be enforced either.
The above comments are those of Bill Adler. Our only comment is---we concur.
12 comments:
I made my comment about the Walmart paint vote prior to this posting. Most of my comments belong under this posting
I realize my comment belongs under a different post, but the posts on the Oracle Road noise buffer wall are buried at this point so I'm posting it here.
YOUR FREUDIAN SLIP IS SHOWING
In this week's Explorer, there is an article about the noise buffer wall. The caption underneath the photograph of the wall states that the design of the wall was supported by neighbors of Rams Head Pass, "according to the Arizona Department of TRANSFORMATION."
I couldn't have said it better myself!
Thanks to VC for providing an opening: more about the Noise Buffer.
I live in Copper Creek - several streets south of Tangerine and I'm amazed at the amount of road noise.
During the Town-Hall sponsored "widening Tangerine neighborhood information process" we were told they would use sound-deadening products on the road and that walls, as a sound barrier, would not be necessary.
I say all of this because, although it's unsightly, Ram's Head Pass HOA is looking out for their homeowners. To my knowledge, the Copper Creek Association played no part in the planning process and I feel that we've been deceived for the umpteenth time by the town.
Oro, just a little bit of information:
I have been told by ADOT that sound buffering surfacing will be in place after the widening and those things that go with it are completed. Also, after that, when the proper weather conditions prevail for laying such a surface, that is when they will do it.
Please understand also that the ONLY reason even Rams Pass was an eligible subdivision for a wall buffer was because ADOT utilized, at least in part, federal funding to help with the project. Federal funding comes with strings and one of those strings is that under certain terms and conditions a sound buffering wall must be erected. Evidently Rams Pass might have been the ONLY subdivision that met those conditions (a lot of which is within an unbelievably complicated formula). Oh, well, since it appears that Rams Pass was build on a flood plain, the homes in there might get wiped out by a temporary lake someday.
My own experience with sound buffering road surfaces has been impressive but only the tire to road noise will be mitigated.
Unfortunately, the wall is UGLY!
Other than that, welcome to the big city of Oro Valley.
Thanks for that info about the Federal strings, Zev.
I'm not sure I understand the part about waiting for the proper conditions to apply noise-deadening products; Tangerine was widened several years ago.
For the most part I agree that walls are an ugly solution to the problem but if you look around TUS you'll see some noise buffers that are well designed and attractive. Quality of life for those within the community effected trumps views.
Oro, re: 'proper conditions'
I was told by Susan Parcells at the Tucson ADOT division that since the composition of the 'pavement' was of a particular ilk, it could only be laid under certain favorable weather conditions. It was not used relative to the previous widening project.
Now, if you go to your search engine and type the following:
Keeping the Noise Down - Highway Traffic Noise Barriers, FHWA
You can learn a lot, especially the criteria that includes that the barriers:
"Must be designed to be visually appealing"
"Must be designed to preserve aesthetic values and scenic vistas"
While 'visually appealing" can be subjective, [preserving scenic vistas] in the case of Oro Valley seems to have been grossly ignored.
Please go to the website by typing in what I showed you above; it is VERY informative and shows pictures of many alternatives including glass panel barriers.
Hope this helps you to at least see SOME of the Fed guidelines.
Oro,
Although "I feel your pain," I disagree that "Quality of life for those within the community effected trumps views." I say this because, to me, the view is PART of my quality of life.
There has been talk of installing a noise wall in my neighborhood when a particular road in the area is widened to 4 lanes in the future. This wall would be visible from my backyard. I'd rather deal with the road noise than to have my desert view obstructed. One of the reasons I bought this house was because of the view.
Even as a 2-lane road, it was noisy because of the type of materials used. When they repaved the road, they did use the rubberized asphalt and it is MUCH quieter.
I never noticed the noise during the day...you get used to it. At night, I use a fan for white noise in my bedroom. It drowns out any traffic noise that might keep me awake. So I think there are ways around noise problems that don't involve spending millions of taxpayer dollars and ruining everyone's view.
I once lived in a condo adjacent to railroad tracks. The train came by every night at 3 AM, blowing the whistle as he approached. It woke me up every night. That's when I got the idea to use a fan in my bedroom for white noise. The train never awakened me again.
I think there are some problems than can be solved easily and inexpensively by individuals rather than always expecting the taxpayer to foot the multi-million dollar bill.
Of course, I don't live in your neighborhood so I don't know if your noise issue could be solved with white noise, but I assume that it could.
Oro...I too am a Copper Creek resident and former HOA Board member and will tell you that the CCHOA typically does not get involved in Oro Valley issues. I have made several attempts to get them to make official statements and the best I get is an individual from the board making a personal comment.
Please write to the HOA Board and let them know your feeling.
VC...Great post. My home backs to Naranja and the noise level is much lower than it was before the roadwork. And we too have a fan in our bedroom for the same reason.
I am so glad to hear you say that government is not the answer. I'll bet we could figure out this healthcare problem too. :-)
I worked in health care for 20 years and I can tell you that the health care problem is HUGE, and I've seen it from the perspective of the health care employee and from the perspective of the patient. It was maddening and frustrating from both perspectives.
I could write a book on this topic, but I'll get lectured for going off the topic of this stream.
I watched Bill A. in action. He's a good man who has dedicated countless hours to the town. I hope there are enough votes on the council to support his ideas. In the past there have been too many exceptions granted.
Remember when we had Rochman, Wolf and Johnson who allowed the horrible signage at Magee & Oracle to stay in place after the proposed remodeling?
They also allowed a new business, Capin Car Wash to copy the poor example set by many of the businesses at Magee and Oracle.
These are also the three who took us to the cleaners with the EDA's!
Say whatever you like about the councils since those guys! The improvement from the day they were voted out has impressed me!
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