Charlotte County considers ordinance to phase out excessive business signs

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. A plethora of feather flags, banners and pennants can be found on nearly every street corner of U.S. 41.

Skip Grisis, a local business owner, admits while some banners are good for business, he also believes it can be too much at times.

“You don’t need ten flags and five banners up to identify that you’re open,” he said. “Instead of looking for 2626 Tamiami Trail, we can tell them that we’re three doors north of the West Tarpon light and to stop at and look for the feather flag.”

A growing number of residents share Grisis’ sentiments, city officials said.

“They think that there’s too much of it, that it’s cluttering up the roadways of our commercial corridors,” said Shaun Cullinan, a Charlotte County zoning and planning official.

County building officials are rewriting the county sign ordinance in order to decrease the amount of signs over time with every new signage permit.

“During the recession, people could do whatever they needed to to stay above water,” Cullinan said. “But now that we’re getting into a better place fiscally, it’s time to get it cleaned up again.”

Building officials will host their final public workshop meeting about the ordinance next week before it goes to commissioners for public hearing.