Four Businesses Remove Rooftop Signs Following Citations by DPNR

The Balcony and Wharfside Village removed their illegal rooftop signs last week after being cited by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. St. John Tradewinds News Photo By Eliza Magro

 

Wharfside Village, St. John Eye Care, The Balcony, Denzil Clyne Car Rental and The Front Yard recently removed their illegal rooftop signs following the issuance of citations by the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

Despite citations issued by DPNR officials on August 9 giving the business owners 45 days to remove them, rooftop signs remain at Our Market, Palm Jewelers, Cap’s Place, Dolphin Market and Verace Jewelers in Cruz Bay and Love City Mini Mart in Coral Bay as of press time.

The notices of violation did not impose a fine, but instructed the 11 businesses to remove the signs immediately, according to DPNR spokesperson Jamal Nielsen.

Further Action Possible
The remaining businesses with rooftop signs may face further punishment, explained Nielsen.

“Title 29 clearly states that no rooftop signs shall be permitted anywhere in the Virgin Islands,” said Nielsen.

“We’ve transmitted to our legal counsel the names of the businesses that have not adhered to this law, and they will be forwarding them to the attorney general’s office for some type of prosecution, which may be fines,” Nielsen added.

The law against rooftop signs is likely in place due to aesthetics, explained Nielsen.

“It’s more of an aesthetic issue,” he said. “We want to keep the town looking nice and don’t want all these blaring signs on the roofs.”

The law is also in place for safety durring hurricane season, Nielsen added.

The signs perched on roofs could come loose and becme projectiles during a storm, the DPNR spokesperson explained.

 

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