Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-25
REGULATION DRAFT
FOR SIGNS SCORED
Billboard Foes Seek Clause
to Prohibit Repairing.
Hearing Wednesday.

With public hearing scheduled to
open Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock
on the proposed new set Of sign regu-
was expected that the billboard section
would become a target for sharp criti-
cism.
Dissatisfaction with this particular
section Of the proposed regulations,
which, 1t Is believed. virtually would
leave the situation as it now stands. has
been voiced in some circles in the belief
that 1t would not 60 far enough in pro-
tecting the city from an abuse OF out
door advertising such as the District
Commissioners sought to curb in ask
ing from Congress the right to exercise
wider powers Of control.
Would Prohibit Repairs.
Leaders in the civic campaign, which
resulted in Congress giving the Ccm-
mtssionerS power to write new sign
regulations, appeared today to be
unanimously agreed that the regulations
specifically should prohibit repairs be-
ing made to any existing billboards
rather than leaving the matter to the
discretion Of the Commissioners In this
is practically identical with the existing
law on the subject.
The proposed new section on existing
signs says:
mo sign erected before the adoption
of these regulations shall be repaired,
altered repainted or moved unless 1t
be brought into compliance with the
requirements of all applicable regula-
tions.
mo billboard may be erected or re-
paired within the District of Columbia,
irrespective of location, unless the ap-
plication for permit be approved by the
Commissioners Of the District Of Co
lumbia."
Dawson Defends Draft.
Mai Donald A. DAWSON Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner and chairman OF
the committee that drafted the regula-
tions defended the billboard section
today.
Under practically the same regula-
tons during the last dozen years or so,
he declared, the District Commission
ers never have authorized q permit to
allow the reconditioning of billboard.
Believing that the Commissioners
should be free to exercise their judg-
ment in that respect when the orderly
appearance Of outdoor advertising signs
might require certain repairs to be
made, Mai. Dawson said he did not see
why a specific prohibitive clause should
be included in the section.
The door to the spread of signs has
been shut, he pointed out. by prohibit
ing additions to the authorized list Of
billboards.
Would List Existing Signs.
"On and after July /, 1881" the pro-
posed regulations add, "all outstanding
authority and permits for the erection
and maintenance of billboardS, fence
signs and wall signs are hereby rescind-
ed, and IN lieu thereof the appended
list of billbcards, fence signs and wall
signs is hereby established and made a
part of these regulations"
The list of biiIboards" Is being COM
piled from a survey Of all existing signs,
checked to see If there are any for
which no permits had been issued IN the
past. Failure of the Sign Committee to
have this list completed IN time for the
public hearing and included with copies
of the regulations sent to all interested
persons and associations has been the
cause of numerous complaints.
When 1t finally is checked, 1t win be
who is to administer the sigp law. show
ing the site Of every sign authorized
under the existing law. t
AS safeguard against new billboards
being erected, the proposed regulations
further add: NO billboard fence sign
or wall sign site shall be added to this
authorized list, and any billboard. fence
sign or wall sign abandoned for any
cause whatsoever shall be permanently
stricken from said list"
Projections WrangIed.
Several other features of the bill
chiefly those affecting projecting signs.
probably will be criticized at the hear
ing The proposed regulations would
permit signs to project AZ inches from
buildings Some Of the critics of the
regulations believe that if the Sign
Committee had sought to preserve the
best appearances OF necessary signs on
business properties and hotels the signs
should be made to hang along the
facades of buildings rather than project
so much as 60 inches.
Horace w. PeaSlee, local architect,
wrote to Maj. Dawson. explaining that,
IN his opinion, the proposed changes
90 not establish any limitations for pro-
jecting signs on shop fronts which, as
now In use, he declared, certainly dis
figure the appearance OF the city.
PeasIee Urges Exception Rule.
"Since projection beyond the property
line may be made only with the con-
sent of the Commissioners, he said, st
doesn't seem to be necessary that the
consent be given for elements which do
not add to the appearance of the Wash
ington streets. The same discretion
could be lodged as in the case of pro-
jections IN height above established
limits which are not supposed to be
permitted except for sound architectural
reasons.
IF a regulation were adopted forbid
ding projecting signs unless of unusual
merit. the usual box contraptions gaud-
lily illuminated would disappear quickly,
and well designed signs would take
their place"
Mr.. Peaslees suggestion in this re-
spect, 1t was said, would be brought to
the attention of the Commissioners at
the hearing.
All the provisions Of the proposed
regulations will be subject to the ap-
prevail Of the District Commissioners.
Views pro and con were invited at the
hearing Once the Commissioners APP
prove the regulations, they will have
the force and effect of law.