Grand Rapids real estate agents are fighting for the location, location, location of their real estate signs in the city.

The city’s planning commission passed a recommendation to the city council for a revised real estate sign ordinance that does not allow for directional signs in the city limits. The signs, which typically feature an arrow in the direction, were usually placed on street corners along major thoroughfares through the city.

But after a wayward sign along Highway 169 erected by a developer of a new neighborhood drew the ire of some residents, city officials have taken a hard look at its ordinance.

Area agents and city officials had come to a contentious compromise on the regular real estate signs by allowing additional sign in the cases of larger lot sizes or properties with lake, river or multiple street frontage, but reached an impasse over directional signs.

Charlotte McDermott, a real estate agent with Prudential Lakes Realty, said directional signs are a necessity and help potential home buyers discover property for sale away from major streets.

“The elimination of arrow signs is a significant detriment to people who are earnestly trying to sell their homes and for people who are trying to buy a home,” she said. “This is nothing new. When we see a need, we put the sign there.”

Planning Commission Chairman Pat Schwartz prefaced discussion of the ordinance Thursday by saying it was time to move on after months of wrangling with the ordinance.

City Attorney Chad Sterle presented the prevailing opinion among commissioners that the city has to have an all or nothing approach to allowing signs in its rights of way.

“We can’t allow real estate signs in the right of way without allowing every other kind of commercial speech,” Sterle said.

Commissioner Lee Anderson said he checking on dozens of other city’s ordinances and none allowed signs in the public right of way.

Area real estate agents are not giving up yet. The Itasca County Board of Realtors have hired an attorney to represent the board, but it is unclear whether they would pursue litigation.

McDermott said proposed compromises with generic directional signs received little consideration from the planning commission.

“We are hopeful that the city councilors and the mayor will understand the goals we’re trying to achieve,” she said.

Community Development Director Rob Mattei said any of the city’s ordinances regarding commercial speech have to be content neutral. Essentially, the city cannot ban speech about apples while allowing speech about oranges. Mattei said city officials will be enforcing the ordinance if it is passed by the city council.

“We have to enforce the best we can what’s on the books, whatever that might be,” he said.

Source:

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