By Joni Simon
Contributing Writer

Park your signs at the city limits. Fair Oaks Ranch will remain uncluttered by them. That was the message City Council gave one local homebuilder, who walked away with sign in hand. Making his pitch for the Greater San Antonio Builders Association’s 2008 Tour of Homes, an event that is scattered all over the Alamo City, Steve Essick left the council chambers on April 17 with a flat ‘no’ for an answer.

Different from the Parade of Homes, the houses don’t have to be finished and furnished with lavish touches of class in order to be viewed by the curious as well as serious homebuyers.

The variance would have allowed signs on Ralph Fair Road, Pimlico, Fair Oaks Parkway, Equestrian and Riva Ridge. They would have directed visitors to the homes on display, so “they don’t wander all over the neighborhood,” Essick said.

The homebuilder promised to take the signs down daily, then carry them away when the event ends.

“It is easy to get lost out there,” City Administrator Roy Thomas said. “But, I’m concerned this type of variance request tends to lend itself to other variance requests. We’d be hard-pressed to allow for one and not another.”

Alderman Frank Pickart agreed.

“We worked hard on this ordinance,” Pickart said. “When you drive up and down Leon Springs, you see millions of signs. If we allow signs, they’ll be all over the community.”

Essick asked the council to reconsider this request for a special event put on by an organization that has “done a lot for other cities.”

“We’re trying to be able to compete on the same level field as other areas,” he said.

The council did agree to amend an ordinance that will ease up on penalties for false alarms for properties in the community that have more than three structures and/or multiple users.

“This will give them a few more chances,” Fair Oaks Ranch Police Chief Scott Rubin said.

Currently, property owners are allowed five false alarms before a fine is charged. The third time an alarm sounds at a residence or business, the owner receives a letter. Just three residents have three false alarms and one is at five, according to Thomas.

“But, they haven’t crossed over to six yet,” he said.

In other business, the council passed, without much discussion, an action on the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction that extends the city’s western boundary.

“Nothing special has to be done,” Thomas said. “Some percentage of Fair Oaks Ranch extends to where it butts up to Boerne’s ETJ. This ordinance will accomplish that.”

In addition, the council approved the establishment of a fire lane from 29503 through 29551 Terra Vista.

The growth at the country club has caused overflow parking to spill out onto the street, according to Thomas, who says that makes it difficult for emergency vehicles.

“The problem will become more critical as the athletic center gets built up there,” Thomas said. “With that kind of activity level, it’ll be more difficult for the emergency vehicles to get through.” Thomas says the measure has the approval of the Fair Oaks Ranch Homeowner Association and has also gotten the nod from residents who live in the immediate area.