Road Spam

I have received many comments from individuals as well as other communities about how nice Broadlands looks. One of the things we do is remove all the road spam signs that get posted along our street medians, primarily at major intersections. These signs are unsightly and seem to breed like rabbits.

This morning I picked up about 20 Moe's Grill signs and put a call in to the owner. If you'd like to help out, do the following when you see these signs:
1) If there's a phone number, call and ask for the manager or owner. Let them know that it is against HOA policy to post these signs in Broadlands.
2) Tell them that the HOA removes them and throws them out, so they are spending their money for nothing by putting them here..
3) Tell them that as a resident of Broadlands and a potential customer, you would appreciate it if they would follow our rules.

We do allow realtors to post their Open House signs as long as they are not put out before Saturday morning and are removed by Sunday night.

I have recently been working with Van Metre Homes and Southern Walk Apts. to reduce the number of signs they put up on the weekends.

 

Good to know that we actually have the right to pick them up and toss them.

 

It's illegal both in VDOT right-of-way and on private property. If it's on HOA property, I think the HOA definitely has the right to remove it.

If it's in VDOT property, it's against the law, and who's going to sue the HOA for removing an illegal sign??

"Umm, your honor, I put up a sign, which may have been against the law, but they took it down!!"

 

I may be wrong on this but I don't think it is totally Illegal.

I know in texas the builders could put up signs (and there were rules to follow size, location etc.) I remmeber they could put them up after midnight friday and had to be down by midnight sunday. It's been a long tine since I delt with this issue, but way back when, I am pretty certain we could do here what we did in Texas. But that was awhile back and things may have changed. I think I will see what I can find out on monday.

Lee j

 

VaCliff, great idea to call the businesses that road spam. In fact, it gives folks something to do while stuck in traffic.

Ashburn Farm aggressively removes all road spam. Including spam on VDOT property. We don't get in trouble when we mow "VDOT property". We also seed and fertilize it. We also remove an enormous amount of litter from the VDOT roadways. I can't image taking down illegal signs would ever become a legitimate "legal" issue.

Ashburn Farm is in the process of applying for the Commonwealth's Adopt a Highway program. In the very unlikely event someone raised an issue with removing the signs, this program covers sign removal on VDOT property.

 

Nowhere. That's the point. The County's sign ordinance is very strict at an attempt to keep this kind of junky signage at a minimum. I, for one, am glad that we have such restrictions.

There's no public property (ie, VDOT property) outside the right-of-way, unless you're talking about a County-owned park or something as public property.

Even on your own property, you can't just throw up A-frame signs or other signs for your business or whatever - it's not allowed.

 

They're illegal. Everywhere. People put them up because they haven't been fined for doing so.

A majority (probably 95%) of the signs are in the VDOT right of way. VDOT doesn't have the man-power to take them all down, much less fine those who put them up. The County has the authority to fine violators, but not if they are in the VDOT right of way. There are discussions about entering an agreement with VDOT so the County can track/fine those who put up these signs in the right of way.

However, the really big problem is: Homebuilders (the predominant culprit) pay someone to put up signs on Friday, and they're often taken down Sunday night or Monday morning. For a gov't structure that doesn't have staff combing streets for sign violators, it's hard to enforce....

 

DCDavis,

Homebuilders are big culprits but there are many other violators, just as aggressive.

I understand Burton had introduced an idea to help enforce Road Spam. Do you know the status?

 

re: Political Signs - I've heard that VDOT "waives" that law for 30 days before an election. Not sure if that's exactly what happens. Probably don't want to get into a "free speech" fight.

afgm - Burton did propose it, and the Transportation/Land Use Committee is looking at it and asking for more info. One interesting question in this debate is: How can we force the "builder/lollipop" signs to be removed, but still allow churches to keep their signs on weekends. It's a tricky question.

 

It is all road spam! You either enforce it all or none of it.

 

Agreed. I don't see why church spam should get special treatment. Regardless of what the sign is for, it's still an unsightly mess.

 

Good comment Steve,

I do not think they waive the law! It's a rumor spread by politicians so they can put signs up. Two election cycles ago, the Chairmans of the Republican Committee and the Democrat Committee jointly pledged to ban political road spam. It was a great move and made a difference. Unfortuantely the last cycle did not show the same cooperation. Let's hope they make the same appeal in November.

 

For those that care about which businesses routinely ignore the HOA's request to not put the road spam signs out, I will list these violaters here.
Mezza Grill has been verbally asked at leat 4 times to stop posting these signs on the HOA's property. I have personally spoken to the Manager, Robert, 3 times. Mezza Grill continues to post these signs on our property, which we pay people to remove.

 

Thanks for sharing this. I like Mezza Grill (especially breakfast), but I will not eat there again until they play by the community's rules. I'll stop in and tell them that much the next time I go to eat... at Del Ray.

 

Although I also liked their food, I will not return. I have too many other restaurant choices to go back to one who has no respect for the wishes of our community.
I hope a lot of folks stop by and tell them what you think.