From email about the sign (see earlier picture by clicking here):
Dear Members of the Urban Design Committee,
Please allow me to express the profound horror felt by myself and many members of the community over your recent consensus to recommend approval of a huge metal VCU Billboard encroachment in the sidewalk right of way adjacent to the intersection of Belvidere and West Main streets. I have attached a picture of the sign as it was installed- by mistake within the park property.
Even when positioned on the sidewalk location recommended by your committee, this sign obstructs historic sight lines through Monroe Park and is inconsistent with the Monroe Park Master Plan as adopted by the city.
The Monroe Park Advisory Council labored for 8 years coming up with an exciting and comprehensive Master Plan to implement an historically sensitive renovation which will return the Park, which is Richmond’s oldest and most historic park, to the jewel it should be. The city has already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in consultant fees as well as in crafting construction documents. Your bad recommendation undermines all of this hard work and capital expenditure.
The manner in which you came to your conclusion is especially troubling. Not only were stakeholders, to include the Monroe Park Advisory Council and the neighborhood associations adjoining the park not advised of the vote in advance, but neither was city council. The neighborhoods that surround and use this park will be severely impacted by this ugly and huge metal billboard encroachment. Furthermore, since you opted not to meet in August, the minutes of the July 3, 2013 meeting in which you arrived at your recommendation were not voted for approval and consequently not placed on your website. This left the stakeholders totally in the dark and created a fete accompli for VCU and this wretched sign. For all intents and purposes, this huge billboard incorrectly “brands” Monroe Park as a VCU Facility. As guardians of aesthetic matters in the city, I just can’t imagine what you were thinking when you recommended approval for this huge billboard encroachment.
VCU participated in the design and supported the final draft of the Monroe Park Master Plan. By submitting the application which is inconsistent with the Master Plan, they are again engaging in ethically questionable behavior. Oregon Hill and other nearby neighborhoods have suffered at the hand of the VCU administration through unbridled encroachment during the Trani years and obviously again now that Rao is president.
In closing, I find the way that this issue was handled by the UDC to be the exact opposite of transparent government. I sincerely hope that city council will investigate and make recommendations limiting the scope of responsibility of the Urban Design Committee if not completely redefining the body. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
Sincerely,
Charles T. Woodson
There is still some question about whether the UDC actually approved this sign. I am hearing that despite VCU’s arrogant assertions, they did not. Its also worth noting that the UDC is an advisory committee, and lacks authority. Even if VCU put the sign on the City sidewalk and not in the park, they lack the right approvals to do so. If they really wanted this damn sign up so badly, so quickly, they should have put it on their OWN property across the street.
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/686696
They have also bolted two steel cables to trees at the opposite corner of the park, at Laurel and Franklin Sts. Just so they can put up a sign every September. Nice job keeping with the evil designs of VCU, but you don’t get that they *want* to turn the park into a white elephant, so they can pick it up for a song, when the master plan fails.
CIty code on illegal signs-
Sec. 38-111. – Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Fixture means a pole; streetlight; tree; tree box; tree stake; fire hydrant; fire alarm box; trash receptacle; stand; wire; rope; public bridge; railroad trestle; drinking fountain; life buoy or any other lifesaving equipment; standard serving as a base or support for a directional sign, traffic regulation or control signal, sign or device; and any other fixture or structure, whether publicly or privately owned or whether permanently or temporarily placed in, on or over a public way. But the term shall not include a fixture permanently attached to a building, structure, pole or standard on private property serving as a base or support for a sign and projecting over a part of a public way installed and maintained in accordance with law, provided that it is used only for advertising the enterprise of the occupant of the premises.
Informational sign means banners or signs placed on or across the public right-of-way temporarily to provide directions or information regarding an event.
Public way means a street, sidewalk, alley, road, highway, bridge, viaduct, subway, underpass, park, parkway, playfield, playground and any other similar place in the city opened to and used by the public.
Sign means a sign, placard, banner, flag, bulletin and any other device of any kind or description used for advertising, promotional or solicitation purposes or for any other commercial, noncommercial, or political display or visual communication purposes.
(Code 1993, § 19-21)
Cross References: Definitions generally, § 1-2.
Sec. 38-112. – Penalty for violation.
Any person convicted of a violation of section 38-113 shall be punished by a fine of not less than $10.00 and not more than $50.00 for each offense. Each individual sign or other form of commercial, noncommercial, or political advertising, promotion, solicitation, communication or display shall be deemed a separate offense. Each day during which any such violation is continued may be treated for all purposes as a separate offense.
(Code 1993, § 19-25)
Sec. 38-113. – Unlawful conduct.
It shall be unlawful for any person to paint, mark or write on or post or otherwise affix to or upon a public way or fixture thereon any sign or other form of commercial, noncommercial, or political advertising, promotion, solicitation, communication or display. It shall furthermore be unlawful for any person to cause or, with knowledge, permit such actions to be taken on such person’s behalf. Willful interference with a person who is engaged in abatement under section 38-115 shall also constitute a violation of this division.
(Code 1993, § 19-22; Ord. No. 2006-103-86, § 1, 4-10-2006)
Sec. 38-114. – Exceptions.
(a)
This division shall not apply to the following signs:
(1)
Regulatory, traffic, or informational signs established or posted by or at the direction of an authorized city department.
(2)
Signs required to be posted pursuant to state, local, or federal laws.
(3)
Signs permitted by the state department of transportation along state-maintained streets, provided that proof of permission must be shown upon request.
(4)
Citizens’ watch signs, as authorized by this division.
(5)
Signs not exceeding four square feet in area giving information concerning the location or use of accessory off-street parking facilities or loading and unloading facilities.
(6)
Signs permitted by the council upon proper application for an encroachment or other form of variance from this division.
(b)
Nothing in this division shall apply to the installation of a plaque, plate, statue, or other commemorative monument or marker in accordance with a permit issued by the department of public works, with the approval of the council.
(Code 1993, § 19-23)
Sec. 38-115. – Removal and collection of costs.
Any violation of this division is hereby declared to be a nuisance. No person shall have any legal right to the continued presence of a sign in a public way in violation of this division, nor shall there be any legal remedy against any person solely for the removal from a public way of a sign which is in violation of this division. Any person may abate the nuisance created by a violation of this division without liability for doing so. If abatement is made by the city, the reasonable costs incurred in removal may be assessed against any person responsible for or benefited by the violation, and such costs shall be collected in the same manner as city taxes. For a willful violation, the city shall be entitled to recover costs, the reasonable value of attorney’s fees, and punitive damages in any proceeding which it may bring to enjoin future violations.
(Code 1993, § 19-24)
Sec. 38-116. – Citizens’ community watch signs authorized.
In any area of the city in which there has been established a citizens’ community watch or a similar watch wherein citizens residing in an area are organized in cooperation with the department of police to combat crime by maintaining surveillance of person and property within such area, the other sections of this division notwithstanding, the chief of police may authorize that signs be placed announcing “protected by community watch” or “protected by citizens neighborhood watch” or making an announcement of similar content. The signs and signposts shall be provided by the city and shall conform to standards set forth by the city traffic engineer who will be responsible for the installation of such signs subject to the approval of the chief of police.
(Code 1993, § 19-26)
http://seeclickfix.com/issues/689942
Sign was removed today!