Controversy over anti-speeding signs in Punta Gorda neighborhood

Residents in Colony Point Drive, in Punta Gorda are not happy with the speeding problem they believe is endangering pedestrians.

“Not a freeway but it seems like a freeway to us,” said Susan Miller, who lives in Colony Point.

The speed limit in the residential area is 25 MPH, but there is no sign posted to inform drivers. This worried the residents while they are outside exercising or out walking the dog.

“You can see how many people use it. Unfortunately on this street there are no sidewalks. So it kind of becomes an issue,” said Alan Von Holden.

So Alan decided to take matters into his own hands by having a sign made that read “Drive Like Your Kids Live Here.”

I put out one sign. My neighbors came over and said “where did you get the sign?” So I said “I think I’ll buy some more signs.” So I bought ten and handed them out to my neighbors who were happy to put them out on my lawn.”

He says the signs were working until he got a knock on the door from a city worker who said the signs were not the appropriate size and needed to be taken down.

He said the signs, the SIZE of the signs does not comply. The only signs that we can have out is 10 inches by 10 inches. Nobody is going to see that,” said Von Holden.

He says if the city would post their own signs, he and his neighbors wouldn’t have to have the signs in their yard.

“I’d like to keep the signs up unless the city can come out and put up their own signs, or speedbumps.”

WINK News reached out to the City of Punta Gorda for comment, but they did not return our request for comment.