ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — St. Pete Beach leaders said a new ordinance is drawing a line in the sand about where beach signs can and cannot be placed. Business owners and visitors have mixed feelings on the topic.

Two signs have been up on St. Pete Beach for about a month now. They point out private beach property from the Plaza Beach Beachfront Hotel and Resort to the water.

“It’s ridiculous, I think,” said one beachgoer.

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The signs won’t be there much longer. Last Tuesday, St. Pete Beach commissioners passed an ordinance saying no temporary portable or permanent signs, stakes, rebar, or pole can be installed with 50 feet of the visible water line. If there is a sign, it has to be portable, placed 300 feet from any other sign, and should be removed at sunset and replaced at sunrise daily.

“This is absolutely unconstitutional,” said Robert Czyszczon, the owner of the Plaza Beach Beachfront Hotel and Resort. He put the signs up saying they have a right to protect the beach in their backyard.

“We just don’t want you parking on the beach and staying on private property. You’re allowed to pass through freely,” Czyszczon said.

Monday, 8 On Your Side spoke to beachgoers staying at Czyszczon’s resort.

“I don’t think it makes much of a difference at all, actually. Now, we just watched the person here, one of the employees, say somebody couldn’t stay here and, you know, the beach chairs are till 5:45 p.m. What’s 40 minutes,” said Brad Domzalski.

The city attorney and commissioners said they had to take a much deeper look at this. They said they understand property owners have rights, but safety is a big concern.

“A prohibition from a post-free zone from the first 50 feet, which is important for public safety when people are walking at night,” said Ralf Brooks, the city attorney.

“It’s just visually ugly, it’s unsafe, and it’s basically against what our sign ordinance says,” said Commissioner Lisa Robinson.

Mayor Scott Tate said he wants to find a way to enforce this rule while addressing the concerns of property owners. He said the current ordinance approved by the city doesn’t do that. So they will revisit it, though beachgoers said they know what they want.

“No, I’m game for getting rid of it for sure,” said another beachgoer.

The mayor said not moving forward on the ordinance could have put them in worse shape with the emergency ordinance for signs expiring on June 27.

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