Board finds Cleveland Street Market window signage violates size limits; sidewalk signs cleared

The Clearwater Code Enforcement Board on July 23 declared that sidewalk signs at the Cleveland Street Market had been removed and were in compliance, but concluded that permanent and window signage at the market exceeded limits in the city’s sign code and ordered corrective action by Sept. 24.

Steven Burkhardt, the city’s sign inspector, presented two separate cases for the same commercial parcel: one for sidewalk signs without permits and one for window signage that exceeded the 25% per-window rule and the 50-square-foot-per-frontage allowance. Burkhardt recommended a declaration of violation for the unpermitted sidewalk signs and a remedial order for the window signage.

Dania Rosario, director of operations for NM Residential (the market manager), and Alexander Cavallo, marketing director, told the board the Cleveland Street Market is a food hall with multiple small vendors that rely on window visibility to attract foot traffic. They said recent signage increases were intended to support vendors and that some photos in staff exhibits dated back to February and did not reflect subsequent changes. Owner representatives provided updated photos and said they had already removed unauthorized sidewalk signs and notified tenants to apply for required permits.

Planning and Development staff clarified measurement standards. Ted Kozak, of Planning and Development, said the code’s 25% rule applies to each window or window grouping and the 50-square-foot cap applies to a street frontage; for complexes with multiple frontages staff counts each frontage separately. Kozak told the board the city allows a degree of flexibility through a “comprehensive sign program” process but that the code’s safety rationale — allowing police and first responders visual access through windows — is an underlying policy consideration.

Property representatives and an outside consultant argued the market’s total window area and the area of the applied vinyl fall below 25% in their measurements (they reported 865.3 square feet of window area and roughly 207.6 square feet of vinyl signage across the market). City staff disputed the applicant’s calculation approach and noted code language that measures the outer extents of a window grouping for compliance purposes. The board asked staff and the owners to work together on options to bring the signage into compliance while acknowledging downtown businesses’ need to draw customers.

After extended discussion and presentation of updated photos, the board voted to: (1) enter a declaration that the sidewalk signs had been removed and were in compliance, and (2) find violations for window signage and order corrections by Sept. 24, 2025, with potential fines of $150 per day per violation after that date. Staff said they will work with the owners on the mechanics of compliance and on whether a comprehensive sign program or permits for permanent signage could offer a longer-term solution.