MARCO ISLAND — There are very specific requirements for temporary signs for real estate for sale, model homes, and sales centers, community development director Bryan Milk told the City of Marco Island Planning Board on Friday – and they are being widely ignored.
With Chairman Dick Shanahan absent, Milk led the six remaining members of the board through a thorough, not to say lengthy, exposition of just what is permissible and what is not in signage, illustrating his talk with PowerPoint slides. Temporary signs, he told them, must be four square feet or less, no higher than three feet, with a white background and lettering in one color, and a corporate logo taking up no more than 20 percent of the sign area.
They must also be on the subject property, and within the correct setback. Directional signs, pointing traffic to a property or sales center, are another matter. Those must be within the right of way, and not on private property.
While enforcement of the signage rules has been deliberately lax during the last several years of economic downturn, in order to help boost home sales, members expressed their determination to get compliance. But first, they agreed, some outreach would be appropriate.
“Is it worthwhile to approach the Board of Realtors, and give them some education?” asked board member (and newly-anointed Marco Island Citizen of the Year) Monte Lazarus.
“Before we leash the sign Gestapo, we want to meet with the Realtors,” said vice chairman Jack Patterson, sitting in the chairman’s center seat. The sign Gestapo, in the person of code compliance officer Liz Carr, was sitting in the City Council chambers downstairs from the police headquarters at the government center on Bald Eagle Drive during the meeting, looking less menacing than the description.
“I can go to a brown bag luncheon” with the Realtors, she offered.
“It’s not educational. All the brokers know the rules. If they don’t know, shame on them,” said board member and real estate broker Marv Needles. “We haven’t slapped hands, and told people if you do it again, it’s going to cost you. It’s starting to look ratty out there.” Apart from the absent Shanahan, Needles is the only real estate professional on the Planning Board.
“We were going through rough times. We let our guard down a little,” said board member Bob Brown. Needles noted that three new model homes, in addition to eight single-family building permits, are a hopeful sign that the real estate climate is improving.
Balancing beautification and promotion proved a thorny topic. Frank Troester of Keller-Williams Real Estate spoke in favor of allowing additional directional signs.
“We’re talking signs, not balloons, windmills, or dancing clowns,” he said. How many signs, what size, and how long they would be allowed to remain were discussed, as well as the distinction between model homes, sales centers, and private homes for sale. Basically, said Needles, “it’s directional signs to a business.”
Currently, for model homes, signs can be permitted for two years, with consecutive one-year extensions adding up to a total of seven years. The signs may not be lighted, and must be removed at night.
Competitors, said Milk, are complaining about existing non-complying signs that are allowed to remain.
“If you say you have a code, you better enforce it,” he said. “If you allow him to continue, others will have them instantly.”
The Planning Board’s next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 6.
May After Five, Marco Island Chamber
Catch of the Day: May 23, 2013
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 28
Throat_Yogurt writes:
Milk, find something better to do with your time
26yearsonmarco writes:
If they are aware of it, or not, Mr. Milk and Mrs. Carr are allowing themselves to become the Hammers used against competing business people who are trying their best to make a living, so they can pay the taxes necessary to pay their City salaries.
This is an Island that is being visited daily by potential customers looking for real estate, a good place to eat, shop, etc. Signs make it easier for these folks to navigate without slowing down and causing accidents.
Apparently there are business owners on Marco Island who believe their power over City Officials, and employees, give them the right to call in a temporary sign complaint at any hour of the day or night, and expect an immediate response, while they have identical signs on and around their properties.
Please be advised, this type of action, and a lack of a set of clear guidelines, only serves to confuse the issue, and raise suspicions about the integrity of the Enforcing Authority.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
What a great, epochal, valuable, dimensional, major, substantial, breath-taken issue. Another example of the stupidity of a local government. I guess Waldi is behind the scene.
Mayor_McCheese writes:
Clean it all up. The place is starting to look like a yard sale. If you let it look like everything is for sale, it will psycholocically continue to depress home prices. Simple perceived supply and demand - Econ 101. I'm fairly sure that most sales don't result from someone blindly following Marco roads looking for "For Sale" signs.
The best solution to level the playing field and to preserve the upscale character of Marco would be to mandate signs no larger then 3x3 in two-color with no commercial branding. Simply "For Sale by Broker" and the broker's phone number. This way, everyone would have the same advantage, it would not look like a yard sale and like everyone is selling (thus keeping prices depressed), realtors would save money not having to continually try to one-up each other on signs and baloons, etc., and all of the properties would still be on the MLS and in the real estate books which is wehere most sales are coming from anyway. It would also be just one more reason why some people would select Marco over other places to buy. It is an added selling point for the realtors. It one-ups Naples in terms of a quality of life issue - it is a competitive advantage. They ought to embrace this approach.
captnjimbo writes:
Would you believe that visitors and seasonal renters looking to live here one day actually drive around looking for open houses and houses for sale. The signs provide a service.
They do however start to look a little tacky when 5 or six are piled up on each other, perhaps because of the restrictive placement rules.
The truth is, while inventory seems to be coming down, there is still a glut of real estate on Marco Island but people are realizing Marco is on sale now and it won't last forever. I would advise council that there are enough rules for now. Why don't the brokers police their people?
26yearsonmarco writes:
After submitting my comments above, I checked the salaries of Mr. Milk, over $90K before his current promotion & Ms. Carr over $50K, plus other benefits which I assume brings their total salaries somewhere near $200K per year.
Does anyone, other than me, find this a little disturbing in light of the economic situation in this Country???
The percentage of my total County tax bill for the City is sixteen percent (16%). For what??, so people can run around inspecting signs?? Can't our huge police force be cross trained to do this?? Wake up Folks.
JohninMarco writes:
Well stated!
KlausStoertebeker writes:
"Simply "For Sale by Broker" and the broker's phone number."
What a great socialistic idea. Uniform everything and kill all creativity. By the way: It gives no one positive example that socialism works. NO! Make it colorful, nice, creative and American like. Loud. That is a strategy.
ajm3s writes:
Should all the realtors dress the same as well to not distract the buyers, and lower costs? Hey, how about they all wear a Che T-shirt, so they are all one and the same on this island. So we can be one happy family.
I DO NOT THINK SO. Why? Upscale is a function of a host of influences, and government decree is not one of them.
Competition by definition encourages distinction not mediocrity or government mandates for sameness. Unless, by upscale you mean we all have a Stepford mate.
Mayor_McCheese writes:
Before all you realtors cry socialism, why don't you figure out a way to sell your properties on their merits and with your skills as sales people if you have any, instead of relying on big colorful signs and gimmicks to catch buyers. There is not a more capitalistic or American approach than that. Socialism? Give me a break!
Comments like that must really tee off quality brokers who use their sales skills and experience to sell their client's properties, not big signs and banners.
You are polluting our island. It is garish and tasteless. Realtors like you are simply used car salesmen who ran out of cars and are now selling houses. I look forward to buying a new office copier from you soon.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
Marco Island is on sale. So is nearly every other community in FL and around the US. Leave the signs alone. Find something else to worry about.
90% of the people on Marco waiting for home prices to come back won't live long enough to see it. Prices from 2005 - 06 were never real people. Wake up! The Nikkei at 40,000 in the 80's along with the Japanese real estate boom was the result of a credit bubble just like our housing bubble. The people in Japan are still waiting for the Nikkei (at 8,000 today) to come back. They are also waiting for their home values to come back. You people will be doing the same.
Home prices in the US are going back to being tied to the average median income in America. The credit is coming out of the system, in everything, not just homes. Anyone that doesn't understand this is a fool and deserves whats coming. Keep an eye on those pension funds, 401's, etc. They are next. It is amazing how ignorant people are when it comes to history and the monetary system.
The island is starting to look ratty I will admit. The reason is all the foreclosures and people that have stopped watering their lawns. Instead of being concerned with RE signs maybe the planners should look at bringing back the ability for people to xeroscape or reducing the cost of water?
KlausStoertebeker writes:
"Realtors like you are simply used car salesmen who ran out of cars and are now selling houses. I look forward to buying a new office copier from you soon."
I am the most successful salesman in history.
If you need a new office copier-er send me an e-mail. I have a good one for you. It was working in Moscow over ten years. They have just one model. Sometimes you have to slap it. But most of the tomes it works proper. The only problems, it works just with Russian paper. That is not available quit often. You know - socialism. Is just in theories good. I am agree with you. Let us make everything uniform in US. In China they have billions of Mao uniforms on the market. Nobody like this ugly looking design anymore. Maybe we buy it for Americans. They like everything and everybody even. And individual housing? What a yesterday philosophy. It is better we move together. How old are you. Maybe that fits.
America has anyway no future. Read this:
" Home prices in the US are going back to being tied to the average median income in America. The credit is coming out of the system, in everything, not just homes. Anyone that doesn't understand this is a fool and deserves whats coming. Keep an eye on those pension funds, 401's, etc. They are next. It is amazing how ignorant people are when it comes to history and the monetary system."
That is a professional opinion. You do not understand?
FOOL!!!!
Mayor_McCheese writes:
Following your logic, we should just let you guys double or triple the size and gaudiness of your signs, then maybe you will sell two or three times as many houses. Good luck with that.
It is nothing nearly so sinister as Socialism. Is is simply like zoning or other municipal rules preserving quality of life. Again, why don't you compete with your skill and your experience - a real meritocracy which is the most PRO capitalistic and American thing you can do.
Instead, you want to play "whose sign is bigger" with the other realtors in your office. The good realtors on the island must cringe when they get associated with realtors like you. Go back to selling used cars. Leave the home sales to the real sales pros, the ones who actually sell, not simply advertise.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
Think BIG!- was the most successful strategy America ever used.
"The good realtors on the island must cringe when they get associated with realtors like you."
Good realtors on Marco Island? You know one?
"Go back to selling used cars."
The only use cars you can sell are BMW or Volkswagen. Limited to get.
"Leave the home sales to the real sales pros, the ones who actually sell, not simply advertise."
Advertisement, marketing, targeting or networking are anyway not in their vocabulary. Their standard is paper pushing.
"t is nothing nearly so sinister as Socialism."
You watch to much the Republican Presidential campaign with Newti and Michelli.
Mayor_McCheese writes:
Maybe you're right and there aren't any good realtors on Marco. Maybe that's the problem. They shouldn't need all the gimmicks if they were good salespeople. If none of them can have all of the big signs and gimmicks, they will be forced to compete on their sales skills - if they have any. The cream will be successful and rise to the top, the others will go to Ft. Myers.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
KlausStoertebeker,
You are a fool! Study some history. Study the last 30 years of Japanese monetary policy. Explain to me how 20 years of zero % interest rates has helped markets in Japan. If JGB's rise just 2% Japan is done. The following depression will be catastrophic. Explain to me how the West isn't following the same path. Keep waiting for your home price to rise. Not going to happen in your life time. I guarantee it!
Why do you comment here? You have no idea what you are talking about! While sad, I will find it fascinating to see what happens to the Boomer generation as their wealth evaporates and their SS and medicare is taken away all because of 30 years of the largest credit expansion in the history of the world. Very little of it was real. Whats real minus the leverage will be a shock. Home prices especially. Google "Keynesian End Point". Or...keep watching CNBC, FOX, or CNN. What ever they say must be true!
KlausStoertebeker writes:
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot You are a bigger fool. Because you have no idea what you are talking. If I follow your description than their is only one conclusion: America is on downfall. That is not hard to understand. Fool.
naples_rocket writes:
I cannot believe how many people do not understand why Marco Island is such a beautiful place and property values are still pretty high. It's because of those strict regulations. Signs, landscaping, everything!!! Maybe all these people who cannot connect the dots do not cross jolley bridge and see how other places with less regulation look like. I don't know... And this line "well, back home in New Jersey I could do this and that and on Marco I cannot do anything". Really? New Jersey? Not really an example to follow.
Is there any research or one single article in business press available at least remotely showing that "For Sale" signs help sell (million dollar) houses. I doubt that.
And finally, where is MICA on this issue???
KlausStoertebeker writes:
We need less government! Not more! I look forward to the day when people like this are lamp post decorations. The writers of the constitution are turning in their grave! You think I am right? Support me.
Mayor_McCheese writes:
I quite agree.
Have some class. The only people those signs help are the people who sell them.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
A little bit freedom must be regulated!~ USA on downfall.
ajm3s writes:
McCheese scores, excellent rebuttal! But for the record I am not a realtor.
Continuing on your point, I believe the bigger signs and banners are city and civic sponsored events. Especially, at the major intersections.
MarcoBiker writes:
Sounds like some "Occupy Marco" candidates .... maybe those wanting total sign anarchy should move to Immokalee. A little bit of "order" on Marco makes sense.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
MarcoBiker,
I'm sure that "a little bit of order" was called for by some people during the "Real" act of the Tea Party in Boston.
Keep living in your unconstitutional future! Enjoy.
The constitution calls for the rights of individuals, and the property rights of individuals.
Throw that aside and let your kids and grand kids know where you stood.
They will appreciate your stance.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
"Throw that aside and let your kids and grand kids know where you stood.
They will appreciate your stance."
How do you know. You are the same rat pack.
marco826 writes:
Dear Klaus
Enjoyed golf and dinner...
kosherdeli writes:
Stop already folks, there is no need to write an Epistle on this subject, or rewrite history, it’s the same old, same old, why the hell should this Law be singled out to be enforced, when the City still ignores to enforce the Parking Across the Driveway Law!!! I guess it’s going to take the ADA to come down on the City too enforce this one. There’s an old saying referring to the Golden Rule, it say’s “The One With the Gold Makes The Rules”. Well think about it folks the City is in Debt to the Hilt, so that means we the Resident’s Are The Ones With The Gold!!! Therefore Isn’t About Time We Start Making The Rules?
ajm3s writes:
I understand your concern that a law is
being broken, but how do approach a vacant lot that has no sidewalk. And interestingly enough, there are some vacant lots with a driveway apron but no sidewalk. If it is just about the law, then your claim is valid, but if it about access you should be asking all those city directors/managers how safety is the utmost concern. And consider the fact, we are have an Ad-hoc Bike Path Committee, but still require sidewalks only when a home is built.
Now how screwed up is that. And this city claims it is wants to be pedestrian friendly. Perhaps, only in new density transfer centers.
How about a rule, no cameras in City Hall, no density transfer to justify a single hotel request, no expanded Community Center, no no no no, until we manage what we currently have and bring it to the standards expected.
First Rule: Sidewalks adjacent to all roads! Especially in areas with single family homes and lots.
Safety First is a claim only when safety management wants more safety personnel, more safety equipment, more
buildings to house safety, and more money for its myopic view of safety.
I predict, Marco Islands safety personnel reaction would be to post new signs: "Sidewalk under construction, walk at own risk" further compounding the signage density on this island.
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