@AZSurprise City Council approved a temporary sign policy on September 5, 2017. This is a temporary resolution to the problem of no A-Frame and limited temporary signage in Surprise as a result of the Council action in February 2017.
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The temporary sign policy allows for two types of A-Frame signs. REALTORS® concerned about open houses will find they use Class I signs, while business owners in brick and mortar locations will find they use Class II signs.
Class I temporary signs may be placed at each street intersection, but no further than the nearest arterial street. From our understanding, that would mean at each entrance to a subdivision and at each place a change of direction would be necessary in order to find the open house. These signs may be placed one hour before the open house, and must be removed within one hour after the open house. The street right-of-way may be used, but not a median, vehicle or bicycle travel lane or a sidewalk. Unfortunately, the dimensions of the Class I A-Frame sign in the sign policy is a few inches smaller than the A-Frame sign most REALTORS® use. Although staff has verbally indicated they will allow the industry standard A-Frame sign, we have not received this in writing at this time.
Businesses are still not allowed to post an A-Frame sign at the entrance to their complex. This is a problem for small business located in “secret shopping centers”. The Mayor and Council recognized this issue and asked Staff to return with a suggestion of how these businesses can be given signage that is not A-Frame signage.
If you have a suggestion, please forward to me at lrecchia@wemar.org. I will be submitting a letter later this month to Staff with WeMAR suggestions. A vibrant local economy depends on small business flourishing, and small business needs adequate, visible and legible signage to attract customers and flourish.
Banner signs are not allowed on residential properties and there are specific requirements for banner signs located on commercial properties.
The City Staff has incorporated several WeMAR suggestions and have improved this portion of the sign code. Eric Fitzer, Community Development Director, described this temporary policy as a “Beta Test”. Agents, brokers, business owners, residents and property owners still have time to critique and make suggestions to improve this part of the proposed code before it is incorporated into the final sign ordinance later this year. Mr. Fitzer’s slide presentation gave some details.
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Here are some suggestions WeMAR will continue to make:
- Residents should be allowed to display banners expressing sorrow, joy and pride on their property
- Businesses located in “secret shopping centers” or other commercial locations not easily seen by passersby should have signage indicating their location.
- Modify the size of Class I A-Frame signs to allow real estate industry standard size of 28.5” x 31”.
- We are concerned that due process is not allowed for in the policy and that possible criminal prosecution for a sign policy violation is over zealous.
- The City should allow adequate time for due process before discarding signs in their possession.
A special thanks to Nate Brill for making comments to Council at this meeting. The new sign policy is scheduled to take affect October 6th. Please call or email the City of Surprise to confirm signs and sign locations.
Code Enforcement – 623-222-3054 – codeenforcement@surpriseaz.gov
Eric Fitzer, Community Development Director – 623-222-3020