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Hernando Today

Signs Are Not Aplenty Along U.S. 19

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By TONY HOLT, Hernando Today

Published: February 10, 2008

SPRING HILL - Paul Benedetti has been slapped with at least five fines worth more than $1,000 during his time in Spring Hill.

Hernando County Code Enforcement has tried to penalize him for everything from illegal storage containers to unauthorized business signs. Their battle has raged for 20 years.

Benedetti, who owns a strip mall along Commercial Way, hasn't paid the government a dime. When he challenges the fines, he wins, he said.

The 71-year-old Italian-born man has a lot of fight left in him. He has jawed with Director Frank McDowell III numerous times.

"I've had some pretty heated conversations with Mr. Benedetti over the phone and in person," McDowell said.

Some of their disagreements came from a banner Benedetti had hanging from a forklift. He was told by Code Enforcement to take it down. Instead, he put up more signs, according to the director.

Benedetti swears he thought every sign he put up was legal. He thinks it is personal.

"They were after me then," he said. "They're still after me."

One of the his tenants, Dave Davidson, owner of Precision Tackle at 3284 Commercial Way, also holds a grudge with Code Enforcement.

He has complained about misinformation, unprofessional conduct and unfair treatment. He pointed across the street at one business and noticed a sign was in violation of the signage regulation.

Davidson was fined for a similar violation several months ago when his store was located down the street behind the Pizza Hut.
Code Enforcement informed him he could set up banners alongside a sport utility vehicle and park it so that motorists traveling along U.S. 19 could see it.

Large banners were attached to both sides of the vehicle. Each one cost Davidson $80.

"All of a sudden, Code Enforcement came and said, 'Mr. Davidson, you have to move your vehicle,'" he recalled. "People in Timber Pines complained of ugly signs."

The small business owner, whose business suffered substantially after he removed his signs, conceded there were unsightly banners in the area, but they were made mostly from those occupying the nearby Outlet Mall. Some were made out of bed sheets. His signs were professionally made and he was told by the county they were appropriate.

Eventually, Davidson relocated and moved four blocks north to his current location.

Since his move, his luck hasn't improved. In fact, it has been worse, he said.

One officer who showed up a couple of months ago to issue him a warning for his roadside sign was "belligerent" and "disrespectful," Davidson said.

The sign was posted several feet from the road and on the opposite side of the power lines, which is a legal requirement. Even still, Code Enforcement found something wrong with it, he said.

"They're out to get Paul," said Davidson, who implied he is hurt by his association with Benedetti.

McDowell has heard complaints before - and not only from the likes of Benedetti and Davidson. Now that the economy is showing signs of an imminent recession, he thinks it is time to loosen some of the screws.

The county commission voted unanimously last week to allow for businesses to purchase a 60-day permit for a sign. After that, business owners may pay to have temporary signs along the road for 15 days at a time.

There are still restrictions. They must not be posted too close to the road, nor can a business owner post as many signs as he wants along one block corner.

But McDowell thinks the new regulations should assuage some of the retailers' anxieties.

"These are positive changes to help the smaller businesses in Hernando County," he said.
Code Enforcement still has not determined how much sign permits will cost. McDowell said more work still had to be done to adjust the fee schedule.

Davidson was skeptical. He paid $30 for his 30-day sign, which is about to expire. He also was told a different story about the changes two weeks ago when a Code Enforcement officers visited his store. He was not under the impression much would change.

One of his major complaints is how the county hurts itself financially when it makes things more difficult for people like him.

"By stymieing my business, (they're) affecting the tax revenues for this county," he said.
Code Enforcement cites road safety and community appearance as two major reasons for the regulations.

"We don't want to look like Pasco County," McDowell said.

Benedetti, on the other hand, thinks small businesses are paying too high a price. He made the comparison to those who are selling their homes. For sale signs go up every day on private residential property.

"It's unjust what they're doing," he said. "It's nonsense.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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