November 19, 2008 08:49 pm
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By Mike Pound
mpound@joplinglobe.com
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — After nearly four years of work, the Carl Junction Board of Aldermen has adopted a sign ordinance.
The measure, which sets basic restrictions on sign locations and dimensions, received unanimous support at a meeting Tuesday. No one during the meeting voiced opposition to the ordinance.
City Administrator Steve Lawver said the ordinance, which was the subject of numerous but sparsely attended public hearings, goes into effect immediately but won’t be enforced until the city develops a sign application procedure. Lawver said it’s unclear when that will happen.
Under the ordinance, no sign placed in a residential area may exceed 12 square feet. Signs located in C-1 zoning areas may not exceed 32 square feet, and signs placed in C-2 zones may not exceed 96 square feet.
A permit fee of $50 and an inspection fee of $35 will be charged for any sign application.
In addition, signs must be built on safe and secure foundations, must be located away from utilities, and must not create a traffic obstruction or distraction to motorists.
No existing signs will need to be removed, provided they are not dilapidated, Lawver said.
Lawver also updated the board on discussions with members of Briarbrook Country Club. Lawver said club members have asked the city to explore the possibility of entering into an agreement to purchase the country club and the golf course currently owned by Steven Hayes.
Lawver said a number of questions must be addressed before the city makes any decision, but he said the city has been given permission to evaluate the property in an effort to see what sort of repairs or renovations the clubhouse or course might require. The board took no action after hearing Lawver’s update.
Not discussed during the meeting was a letter sent to the city on Nov. 4 by Joplin attorney Gary Lentz on behalf of a Carl Junction couple who say they were insulted by a member of the Board of Adjustment during a meeting on Oct. 8.
Lentz asked that Randy Karst, who has served on the board for 10 years, be removed for a remark allegedly directed at his clients, Jason Mickey and his wife. If Karst was not removed by Nov. 15, Lentz wrote, the Mickeys would “explore their legal options.”
Lawver said that to his knowledge, the city has not received any further communications from Lentz. Lawver declined to discuss the matter except to refer to it as a “non-issue.” Lentz did not return a call Wednesday seeking a comment.
Karst is still a member of the Board of Adjustment.
Signs OK
Exempt from Carl Junction’s new sign ordinance are window displays, signs on trucks or other operating vehicles, stadium scoreboard advertisements, temporary real-estate signs, government signs authorized by law, political signs not placed in city rights of way, and holiday lights and decorations.
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