Sign code hard to enforce, says design review board

Business sign code enforcement and village design plans were among topics discussed at a recent Ramona Design Review Board meeting.

With no board member currently overseeing sign code violations, Chair Debi Klingner questioned whether such a position is necessary. Board members said the county does not usually enforce notices of violations.

Member Dan Vengler commented that business is so bad in Ramona that enforcing the sign code can be difficult.

“It’s tough when you’re seeing businesses suffer,” Vengler said.

Member Rob Lewallen said the county is working on guidelines for mobile signage.

Lewallen, who is chair of the Ramona Village Design Group, gave an update on the group’s work with consultant Howard Blackson of PlaceMakers on form-based codes and design standards for Ramona. Lewallen said the group has been meeting in extra sessions to review the documents that Blackson and PlaceMakers have created.

“We’re less than enthused about it,” Lewallen said and described the group as being in a holding pattern. “We’re reviewing and reviewing now. We want to know what we’re paying for.”

Greg Roberson, a member of the design review board and village design group, said they are also looking at how the design plans will mesh with the county’s proposed streamlining process.