Sign flaps in Cobbham

An ordinance used to minimize the clutter of signs along commericial corridors is now hindering the ability of an Athens-Clarke County neighborhood to calm traffic.

Cobbham's neighborhood association has led a grassroots effort to make its streets safer for its children, particularly as young families being to flood the area. One of its primary steps was the purchase and distribution of signs that read 'Slow Down' for use by individual property owners. The signs were, by in large, placed in the front yards of property owners.

And, a recent posting on the Cobbham listserv that was forwarded to me, suggests antedoctal evidence of its success (noting, in particular, a blind curve that stretches around the Plaza onto Hill Street).

On Friday, however, the signs along Hill Street were removed by Athens-Clarke County staff members. An exchange on the listserve thread noted that a Hill Street resident asked an official why the signs were being removed, though that official refused to identify himself or offer an explanation on why they were being taken down. The rationale was later given was that certain signs were located in the right-of-way, thus violating a local ordinance.

A traffic study conducted in the fall of 2008 offered evidence that Cobbham met the necessary qualifications to receive funding for traffic calming measures, but, given the budget crunches confronting local governments, those allocations have been either cut or postponed until the economy rebounds.

As a result, Cobbham residents decided to take matters into their own hands through the acquisition of a variety of signs encouraging drivers to slow down as they pass through the area. And while the majority of the signs were put out on private property, others were put up in right-of-way areas to maximize exposure.