Resident Lobbies to Post Signs on Utility Poles

Town resident Eric Oso -- who was taken to court in regard to this ordinance -- started a petition, gathering more than 1,200 signatures, asking the town to revise or repeal the stipulation within Chapel Hill's development ordinance that outlaws any posting of signs on utility poles unless approved by the town manager.

A public hearing was held Oct. 17 to discuss this petition among other issues.

In the petition, Oso argued "this ordinance stifles free speech, discourages grassroots marketing by local businesses ... and leaves our town aesthetically worse off by relentlessly maintaining a landscape filled with cold barren telephone poles."

The staff offered five options to the mayor and Town Council to consider before voting on the issue Nov. 11.

The options ranged from keeping the ordinance exactly as it is to getting rid of it entirely. Another option was to install more kiosks, eight-sided bulletin boards located in the downtown area.

The kiosks were installed in the mid-1980s for the purpose of providing aesthetically appropriate locations for signs and fliers. "Kiosks have not been in the quantity or location that they should be or deserve to be," said Scott Radway, chairman of the planning board.

The planning board voted 6-3 to recommend to the mayor and council to allow signs to be posted townwide.

The idea of prohibiting signs on utility poles originated from a desire to keep Chapel Hill clean-looking, said Roger Waldon, Chapel Hill planning director. "What it comes down to is an appearance issue," he said.

Representatives from Duke Power said safety is a bigger issue than appearance.

Scott Gardner, district manager for Duke Power, submitted a statement to the mayor and council stating that employees are required to climb wooden poles to complete maintenance.

"Prior to climbing, they are trained to conduct an assessment as to the condition of the pole and their ability to climb it safely," said Gardner. "Nails and staples from old and new signs and fliers can cause their climbing hooks to 'cut out' of the pole resulting in a dangerous fall."

Despite Duke Power's recommendation to keep the ordinance as it is, the council was split over the issue. "There are plenty of ways for businesses to advertise by sandwich boards and other means," said council member Pat Evans.

Others said they felt signs on poles would add character and event awareness to the town. Council member Bill Strom said, "I don't wander into the kiosks to read the signs, but I sure do look at them when I'm walking down the street and they appear on a pole."

If Oso gets his way, he won't be going to court again. Posting signs would be legal. "It's the right thing to do; it's the progressive thing to do; it's the Chapel Hill thing to do."

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