Signage clamp down for Franklin
Entrepreneurs in Franklin are a creative lot – with signage popping up in weird and wacky places all around the district.
There has been signage on trees, in the middle of roundabouts, up power poles and lamp posts and mammoth signs covering footpaths.
The increasing problems with breaches of signage rules is resulting in a campaign by Franklin District Council’s Compliance Officers, starting next week.
Franklin District Council GM Environmental Services, James Jefferson says, “We will be focusing on ensuring signage complies with regulations, as it is one of our key complaints from the public. Signage is an important issue, not only for safety reasons, but also consistency and aesthetics.”
“One area of increasing concern is the number of cars parked on grass verges, footpaths, kerbs or on public spaces displaying For Sale signs. These are often safety hazards, and we will be monitoring these. In an urban area you can only park your car for sale outside your own residence.”
Signage is controlled by the Franklin District Plan and the Control of Signs Bylaw 2007. These include rules such as that signage must not obscure a road user’s vision of a road sign, intersection, private entrance, road marking, traffic signal or pedestrian crossing, and also includes that signage can only be erected on the actual property where the activity is located.
Rules can also cover what material the sign is made of, that it is properly constructed, how far away it can be from a road sign, and when on a state highway, the size, lettering size and number of words. Signs must also be removed when their purpose has been served.
“My advice to the public is check to see if your sign complies, if not, remove it or you may be fined. Contact Council and we can work with you to ensure your signage complies,” says James.
Council can remove signage on public property and road reserve and instruct owners to remove signage on private property. Infringement notices can be issued for $300 - $750.
For more information on signage – check out www.franklin.govt.nz and search under the key words ‘control of signs’.
Some of the more common bylaw breaches include:
- Sandwich board signs exceeding one metre high and 60cm wide
- More than two signs per business
- Signs not removed when the business is closed
- Signs obstructing access to/from any building
- Not ensuring a minimum width of two metres unobstructed pedestrian access way is maintained at all times on footpaths
- Placed on a median strip, roundabout or any other traffic separation structure
- Placed on traffic signals or signs
- Real Estate ‘For Sale’ signs placed away from the property advertised for sale. Cannot be erected at the end of the street where the property is located.