DEVELOPER LANCE OSBORNE’S PROPOSED GETGO SIGNS: SO BIG YOU CAN SEE THEM FROM SPACE
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The proposed development agreement that Lance Osborne presented to Council this week was incomplete and lacking in exhibits, but it did include one new item: gigantic, 18-foot-tall, illuminated/LED GetGo signs.
Even if Osborne’s 100 square foot signs aren’t actually big enough to be seen from space—okay, maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration---his proposed signs would be big enough (18’ x 15’2”) and brightly lit enough to be seen from Richmond Heights, from I-271 and from planes flying to and from the Cuyahoga County airport.
Heck, not even Mayfield Heights allows signs like that, even along heavily commercialized Mayfield Road.
Where does Osborne thinks this GetGo will be located----Lake County?
The Bishop/Brainard/Wilson Mills intersection is a well-established commercial area.
The businesses in that area---the Shell gas station, the Brown-Flynn building and the large professional building ---use tasteful ground signs to advertise their businesses. Those signs reflect the established aesthetics of that commercial corner.
Obviously Osborne doesn’t care about those aesthetics---or about fitting into the neighborhood.
He might not care about those things, but Council should.
Highland Heights Ordinance 1145.01 lists five “purposes” for the city’s sign ordinances, including:
- “protect property values” ( #1)
- “protect and enhance the appearance and character of all areas of the City (#3) and
- “protect …the visual environment along City streets (#4).
1145.01 also directs that those purposes are to be accomplished through “restriction of the total sign area per sign.”
Ordinance 1145.08 limits “free-standing” signs in Motor Service districts (the proposed new zoning classification for the mega GetGo gas station, subject to voter approval in November) to:
“a single free-standing sign, not to exceed thirty square feet in area.”
Of course a 30 square foot sign isn’t big enough to be seen from space…
Osborne dismissively called the Highland Heights zoning code “antiquated” when discussing his gigantic mega GetGo outdoor advertising signs with Council this week.
Osborne's beef with the Highland Heights zoning code is that it's designed to protect residents and residential neighborhoods instead of enabling his "development at all costs" project.
Boo hoo.
If he can't follow the rules, maybe it's time for him to come up with a different plan.
amy feran
7:04 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
One correction: the total square feet of Osborne's proposed signs exceed 270 square feet---almost 3 times the 100 square feet I reported.
AMA
8:11 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Well, we all knew he would slip a micky in the plan to see if no one noticed.
The sign, which is not allowed, is still on the Catalano tree lawn. Why wasn't it taken down? The mayor and council need to rule with a firmer hand with Lance. It seems he can do anything he wants. The zoning needs to be enforced,otherwise, he will have his mile high sign in there before we all know it. Then maybe Russia can see it from their backyard. I hate the whole idea of the GetGo but I like the shops idea. GetGo will cause so many problems....I hope the residences will realize this and VOTE NO !!!!
Thank you Amy for your info and all you do!
Noreen
12:42 pm on Saturday, June 23, 2012
Residents - don't snooze on this one. Let's pay attention to what is being proposed and watch it carefully before something unsavory gets jammed down our throats. I appreciate Cathy Murphy, our City Council President keeping a close eye on this project, as well as the Mayor and other Council members. Why has the name Osborne become a negative? Mr. Osborne, please respect our community.