City Council Votes to Allow Larger Real Estate Signs

Businesses selling real estate in Mission Viejo got an advertising boost from officials last night.

The City Council voted 4 to 1 to allow companies to post commercial real estate signs as large as four feet by four feet without a permit – double the previous maximum limit.

The new rule allows one sign per commercial site. 

Before the Monday night decision, the city's code allowed for a single two-square-foot-by-two-square foot sign per commercial site without a permit.

Councilmember Cathy Schlicht voted no on the item, saying that the council needs to “start preserving our heritage" and that too many signs makes for "unreadable clutter."

“The two-foot (by-two-foot) sign is adequate," Schlicht said. "You don’t need the four-foot (by-four-foot) sign."

In contrast, Councilmember Dave Leckness said that the real estate signs help business owners know what locations are open.

“It’s for the small businesses,” Leckness said. “It’s for the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker.”

“That existing sign (limit) is just too small,” he added.

After asking a number of questions of staff, Mayor Pro Tem Rhonda Reardon moved the item, and asked City staff to revisit the issue in six months. 

During public comments on the item, a handful of residents spoke out against the proposed sign limit increase. No residents spoke in favor.

Resident Michael Valdez said that a yes-vote would turn the city into "the wild west of commercial clutter."

“This is another developer-driven exception that whittles away the look of Mission Viejo,” Valdez said.

The Planning and Transportation Commission reviewed the issue June 11.

Check back later for further updates on Monday’s meeting.