Does Anyone Really Care About Oro Valley's Sign Code?

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.

Walmart Gets Color Change Approval With A 6-1 Council Approval

We recently did a posting where Mike Zinkin, former Chairman of the Development Review Board, implored the council to turn down Walmart's request for a color change.

Mike noted, "There is no reason to arbitrarily amend the MACP at the request of Walmart, or any other retailer. To allow for this change, as minor as it is, completely disregards the work and input of your citizens. If we allow Walmart to make a minor change, what happens when a tenant of a 1500 square foot store desires to make a change that is a little more that minor?"

We agree with Mike Zinkin. However, ONLY Salette Latas concurred, as the council approved Walmart's request 6-1.

Read the story in The Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/07/22/news/doc4a6655a72dcf2226894232.txt