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NewslettersFewer banners to be hung at Bay-Ribaut intersection
Sun, 2008-05-11 17:17 — Anonymous
The city of Beaufort has agreed to limit the number and type of banners hung at the corner of Ribaut Road and Bay Street to satisfy the Beaufort County Open Land Trust, which owns the land over which the banners hang. Read the story here.
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I agree that the banners are a part of my memory of driving to and from downtown. My request is that public events, such as the "Taste of Beaufort" and "The Water Festival" be somewhat advertised right there if it's not violating any codes or ordinances. You would be surprised how many people that live in town, have no idea of small events being downtown or in Port Royal, or on the islands. The banners would help draw in tourists who want to spend money here and locals who just don't read the news paper. The only opposition is personal business advertising, theres other, less tacky means to promote your business. Leave the banners up to advertise and guide people to public entertainment.
Aren't we the people the ones who pay to have those pieces preserved? I've made my donations and I say keep the banners! I suppose if my donation were larger, I could of had my wedding on that piece of PRESERVED land called The Bluff!!
Banners like signs require a permit, and the powers that be make those permits wery difficult to get approved.
Really isn't there something better the Open Land Trust could be doing with it's time? The banners are part of Beaufort's 'small town theme' and have been for a very long time. Leave well enough alone.
The purpose of the Land Trust is to preserve the natural vistas and scenic areas. The people that donate money and land support that program. I have donated land and support their efforts. It is not funded with taxpayer money.
I don't know whether they persuaded the previous owner to donate that parcel at the corner or whether it was bought with donated money. But it is up to the board and members on how to manage the properties they own.
From what I understand, the city asked permission to allow banners to be placed there. Even though the banners conflict with written policies, the public need and good are also considerations. As long as the city permits only public events, that may be a good compromise. They also need to consider the appearance of the banners.
As for the private wedding at the other parcel on the bluff, my personal view is that it should not have been allowed.
The best looking thing on that corner is the banners! That corner doesn't preserve a view of anything except traffic.
I would guess that the original owner donated it to keep it from being developed. Even a maintained grassy spot gives a little visual relief from crowded buildings and paved parking lots. Like some of the small parks and flowered spots around town. Having those kinds of places gives it a small town look rather than paving everything like in downtown larger cities. One of the highlights for visitors and residents in Savannah are those parks in the squares. Some people appreciate the green space even if everybody doesn't.
NO one has advocated a parking lot, where did that come from? I notice you didn't respond to my comment about the Open Land Trust signs, I guess if it is a sign that suites your purposes it is OK, if it is someone else's sign it is offensive.
I'm not arguing for or against the banners. That is up to the city and the owner of the property. I don't live in the city and seldom travel by that corner, so I have little interest.
If the owners, the Open Land Trust allows banners on their property, that is up to them, not you or me. We can voice our opinions but in my case, I don't have one. If they allow banners, fine. If they say no to banners on their property, that is fine, too.
I mentioned a parking lot because that part of town is going commercial. Some of those homes from there to the LE Building are homes rezoned to commercial. Maybe the original owner wished to have it left green, which is the policy of the OLT. The parcel is not large enough for a business, but a buyer could buy it and an adjacent lot or home and both become commercial.
As for the OLT signs, they do meet the county sign codes which is strict and they blend aesthetically. They use the same signs county wide. The city code is obviously more lenient, so it fits the city code too.
Isn't this a violation of the sign ordinance? Many business owners had to remove their signs because they were not "proper", to large, etc.
The city should buy this parcel and if they do not want to sell, the city should condemn it and take it anyway, that's what the city does when it wants something. Then the city can decide what it will allow, but it should have this site available to promote worthwhile causes and events. What "scenic" value does this piece have? It's a corner between two roads. The banners should be professionally done, properly installed and in good condition. Oh yes, I would like to mention that all those Open Land Trust signs are illegal off premis signs, should come down, and should not be spoiling the natural views.