A city proposal to double the size of wall signs and ground signs allowed on Oahu’s resort-zoned property outside of Waikiki is running into opposition from those who say it will undermine Honolulu’s tough sign laws.
The Outdoor Circle is rallying the troops against provisions of Bill 79, which also increases signage allowed in five zoning categories, including “neighborhood business” and “mixed use.”
“This bill is a step in the wrong direction,” said Kathy Whitmire, co-chairwoman of the Outdoor Circle’s Public Affairs Committee. “It makes no proposals to control excessive sign clutter, but instead weakens the current law by allowing more and bigger commercial signs even in small neighborhood business areas and rural communities.”
The bill will be the subject of a public hearing today at 9 a.m. before the Honolulu City Council Zoning Committee in the 2nd Floor Committee Room of Honolulu Hale.
First proposed nearly two years ago, the bill would continue to allow a ground sign at each property entrance as well as a wall sign in resort-zoned property outside Waikiki, but it increases the size of each type of sign to
24 square feet from
12 square feet.
Sign codes would also be modified in five zoning categories: neighborhood business, community business, community business mixed use, industrial and industrial/commercial mixed use.
Under the proposal, the changes would allow a larger square footage limit for total sign area and would eliminate the requirement that wall signs do not exceed 15 percent of total wall space.
Whitmire said the proposed amendments will lead to additional sign clutter across the island.
“The more signs you have, the more you need,” she said. “More signage makes each sign harder to see, not to mention detracting from attractive landscaping and scenic beauty.”
Bill 79 was originally proposed as a “housekeeping” bill and had already passed the City Council on second reading with little discussion. But an extension was granted to allow for further consideration.
Curtis Lum, spokesman for the Department of Planning and Permitting, said the department doesn’t see the changes as exceptional.
“The maximum area of signs in the business, country and residential districts is 24 square feet, and we believe changing the maximum area of a business sign in the resort district from 12 square feet to 24 square feet is reasonable,” Lum said in a statement. “The uses permitted in the resort district are comparable to uses permitted in business districts.”
The proposed increase in resort-sign size comes after the new Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore hotel in Laie met with resistance to its application for a sign variance a couple of years ago.
According to Lum: “We understand that Marriott would like to put up a 65-square-foot sign at its Laie property, a proposal that we would oppose.”
