I think the whole idea of the Boundary Street redevelopment concept is horrible. First the street is developed based on what Beaufort Citizens needs, not the fantasy of trying to make it look like Hilton Head with signs you cannot see well or hide pedestrian from motorists, and two like New York City with multistory buildings. The concept seems o be chasing business that would be on Boundary street out, such as Arbys. And wait to the new street plan clogs traffic with circles and narrow roads, all for the glory of a ethically challenged mayor (dismissed, not exonerated)

Also where is the political philosophy that if the government causes a business a loss, then government should pay for it. A way of keeping thing from being done. In any event the city should pay for all signs that have to be replaced, it is the cities idea not the businesses. It is only fair. They where all built to conform to the last one or two sign ordinates and is very expensive for the companies to do.

This whole idea is unfair to business, that work so hard to build their business and now have to raise prices to cover a stupid law that is not needed. Yes they will raise prices to cover the ten of thousands of dollars in costs.

Well isn't it just a Sign of The times. Everything changes but not so much in the Island Town I fell in love with since the early 60's. I went to Robert Smalls Elementary School and later Robert Smalls Junior High, they are gone now, and so am I. I left Beaufort after Graduating from Battery Creek High School in 1978. I have been back every Summer since then, cherishing every moment in the town I treasure. One of the first things I look for is a piece of my History, of Beaufort History, The Maryland Fried Chicken Sign and Restaurant. I remember the Biscuits and Chicken just as if it were only Yesterday. I remember the smell of the Chicken flowing into the open windows of the un-airconditioned Schools on the warm afternoons. It helped keep several students awake. I am sure there are several people who have the same Memories. We knew when we saw Tootie ride his bike by, School would soon be out and we could enjoy the taste of the Biscuits and the Chicken.
Well enough of the memories. I just believe that the History that needs to be saved in Town may not always be the kind found in Museums or in the Civil War era homes, but also in the recent History that some of the living still remember. Could it be that new people to town do not share these memories and think changes should be made. What will it be like when new people want to change little things that lay in their mind forever.
Please keep Beaufort the Beaufort I will always remember. When I bring my Children and Grandchildren, I want to be able to point to the places I grew up with, and I hope you have places to treasure too! See you in July!

I only lived in Beaufort from '95 till we moved to NC last August. Even during that time there were a lot of chagnes. I think the barometer will be when we're saying "I remember when that used to be a ___." or "I remember when ___was there." more than "There ____is. Just like I remember it." But when you guys were growing up here in the 60s and 70s there were changes made that the older people balked at too. I do believe there are some landmarks that shouldn't be messed with, regardless of some silly ordinance.

I lived in Beaufort many years ago and have just bought land to build on. No one loves the lowcountry morre than I do, but I think tall signs are a bad thing. They block views and are just ugly.

epose facto.
The sign stands if Maryland fried wants it to.

Please, please tell me that Beaufort is not going the way of Hilton Head with the sign ordinance! On Hilton Head, it is nearly impossible to find any establishment for which you don't already know the location. This is because the signs are all so small, low to the ground and blend in so well with the background that one doesn't see them at all or they are impossible to read until you are right on top of them and then it is too late to turn. I cannot believe the businesses in Beaufort can be pleased with this ordinance. Why aren't they up in arms about people not being able to find their establishments due to the inability of strangers to either see their signs at all or if they do see them, they see them too late to turn into their place of business due to the size and location of their signs that is being forced on them by the "powers that be" in city government.

Things change so fast over there I cannot believe that anyone would know where businesses are. There were probably innumerable places you could have patronized that you would never have heard of or noticed, that have come and gone, out of business for want of advertising and along with them jobs and private fortunes invested. I heard somewhere that Hilton Head has one of the highest failed business rates in the country, is that what you wish on your fellow citizens in the name of aesthetics? Sure some of the monument signs look nice, but there were others that also looked nice that had to come down, this change has been very costly for these businesses and some of them are barely hanging on in this economy while trying to compete with big box stores. Pretty soon we are going to find that we have no choices of where to shop and what products we buy, there will be only a few places left and they will all have the same merchandise. Beaufort better give more thought to it's local businesses and less to things that just matter to people who have theirs already and could care less about people still trying to support their families. I for one hope that Beaufort doesn't become a samy-same town that you could visit anywhere, they are all interchangable. We are well on our way with the sign ordinance and the "build to" concept, you really won't have any scenic views soon, you'll just have walls with maybe a glimpse of marsh down the entrance road to businesses. Hope no one is claustrophobic, at least with signs up in the air you could see around the poles, get out into traffic and see the entrance in time to turn in.