Should the Town of Cary ditch its beige signs?
The Town of Cary is planning to revise the strict sign ordinances that require everything in the town be beige and white. It’s the first time in 10 years that the town has looked at major changes to the sign ordinances, reports the News & Observer.
I have mixed feelings about Cary’s sign ordinances. The Punky Brewster side of me says the town needs to stop being so lame and relax the laws, let some color shine through. But the former Hilton Head Island resident in me says there’s something nice about tight controls that prevent tacky signs from proliferating.
I’m eager to hear more about the process though. The N&O reports that a 15-member task force is being created for the review. Then a consultant will review the task force’s findings and the town council will make whatever changes suit its interests (I mean constituents) and suddenly pink will be the new beige. Seriously though, who will these 15 people be? What will their backgrounds be? Will they be required to know anything about design, architecture, marketing, ordinances, etc.?
No matter what, I’m guessing the town will find a way to get rid of giant “Screwed by The Town of Cary” sign that David Bowden had painted on the side of his house to express dissatisfaction over the way the town handled a road construction issue that supposedly messed up the drainage around his house.
If there’s any doubt over whether Cary’s sign ordinances are too restrictive, take a look at this awesome list of memorable violations the N&O compiled. Here’s my favorite:
“October 1996. Nonconforming exterior. Location: Gypsy’s Shiny Diner. Why: Too shiny. Owner Gypsy Gilliam locked horns over having her old-fashioned diner clothed in chrome. Some compromises included taller landscaping and building up the brick base. There was a later skirmish about holiday lights adorning the bushes. On her grand opening in 1997, about 600 people lined up at 4:30 a.m. to be the first diners.”
Residents will have a chance to share their input about the sign ordinance during the next two months. In the meantime, tell me what you think about it. Is Cary too beige? Or does that make sense for the “Containment Area for Relocated Yankees?” BTW, I have a crush on Cary, so try to be a little nice.
I find it funny they’re so strict about their signs. I get that they’re trying to prevent anything totally outrageous and ugly though.
I have driven through some neighborhoods in Cary and seen a bright green house and a pink one! Maybe that’s some residents way of getting back at The Man.
Perhaps the individuals of the task force will be a little more colorful themselves?
As a Cary resident I’m in the same boat as you Ginny. While I enjoy the strong property values and the esthetically pleasing vista, it does feel like the mailbox design Nazi’s have taken control.
At the end of the day though, most people who move here know what they’re getting into. The very reasons they loved the clean town so much is the same thing that’s going to keep them from keeping a covered BMW motorcycle in the driveway (Wait. I’m projecting. And that was the HOA mailbox Nazi’s. But still).
The thing the town should be focused on is keeping any development region or area from looking like a Raleigh Kangaroo gas station. Consistency in design and color scheme within a defined area could certainly open up the options of more colorful vistas.
There’s a reason only 12 year old kids wear the hodgepodge of colors like Punky Funky Brewster GS. They’re 12. Time to grow up I guess (*wink*nod*).
Darn it!
All IMHO,
Sid.
Ha , I think that if the town of Cary wants him to take it down, then take it down to avoid the fines. BUT..it is Christmas time!!! Every heard of Christmas Lights, or a bunch of red bows that read “screwed by the town of Cary” in bright red bows or lights lights.
If Cary complains about his lights, they will be very busy as they will have to hold everyone in Cary to the same standards about their Christmas decorations if they try and tell him to take it down! I would like to see what people have to say if he does do something Holiday related and Cary tries to only penalize him, that would be a definite violation of free speech among many other things.
Sid, You seriously crack me up! I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid.