Manassas Park OKs signage ordinance

By Kipp Hanley

Published: March 19, 2008

City planner Vanessa Watson said after last November's elections, city staff filled up four trucks with leftover political signs and debris.

So the Manassas Park city council approved an ordinance Tuesday limiting the signs that appear with regular-ity.

Political signs on private property must be removed no later than 14 days following the election in question. Signage on public property where a polling station is located can be posted no earlier than 24 hours prior to the election and removed no later than two days following the election.

Signs can be posted no closer than 40 feet from any entrance to a polling station and be extended either 100 yards from the polling station or to the nearest public right-of-way—whichever comes first.

Signage on right-of-ways are also strictly forbidden.

One particular problem area was the grassy median near Va. 28 on Manassas Drive, where an abundance of signs, many for the same candidate, dotted the landscape.

Watson said the city plans to inform the local candidates about these changes before the November general election. Four city council spots and the mayoral seat will be up for grabs this fall along with the presidential elec-tion.

If signage is either in an inappropriate place on public property or is still at the polling station after the time re-quirements have passed, the city first plans to call the candidate to make him or her aware of the issue. If the sign still isn't taken down after 24 hours, the city will take a picture of the sign or signs and issue an undisclosed fine to the appropriate party.

Existing language in the code allows the zoning administrator to remove a sign in question at the owner's expense.

"We don't expect to have 100 percent rate of people in conformance but in the same regard, we want to give the people an opportunity to get used to our changes," Watson said.

• Also on Tuesday, the council approved the conditional use permit for the future owners of local billiards club Rack 'N Roll, which is located on Centreville Road. City staff had recommended approval of the permit, which also includes a security plan and a promise to work closely with the Manassas Park police.

Last fall, council voted unanimously to revoke the permit for current owner David Ruttenberg. The decision was in line with the city's planning commission recommendation to revoke the permit of the 15-year-old business based on a belief that the club did not meet the permit's requirements laid down in its 1997 revision and updated security plan.

Ruttenberg ultimately lost his liquor license after a 2004 raid and subsequent investigation by the Alcohol Beverage Control, and he began courting potential buyers shortly thereafter.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738.