GTCCA Lauds County Council's Passage of Limited Signage Bill

Community members are pleased that a bill proposed by Councilman David Marks to limit signage at businesses passed the council Tuesday night.

"We're thankful that Councilman Marks got this through," said Paul Hartman, president of the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations, at a Thursday night meeting.

The bill was presented to the county council after Marks heard community complaints about signs posted on properties where bail bail shops are located. In particular, residents were upset about a large orange sign posted on a stick by Bail Bonds Inc. at the intersection of East Chesapeake and Virginia avenues and signage at Double D Bail Bonds on Chesapeake Avenue depicting a well-endowed woman in handcuffs and jail stripes.

Marks had previously called the signs "very disturbing" and Hartman referred to them as outrageous.

Though the bill initially targeted bail bond shops, it was expanded to include all businesses.

Now, for all businesses 600 feet in any direction from the Historic East Towson neighborhood, neon signage must be 4 square feet. All signs mounted on a pole must also have a brick or masonry base, and can be no higher than six feet tall.

Businesses have six months to comply with the new regulations.

Correction: An earlier version of this article had incorrect information about the limited signage bill. Patch regrets the error.