By Chris OrletRecord Managing EditorHome building advocates appealed to the Warrenton Board of Aldermen Nov. 5 to loosen regulations on temporary directional signs in the hope of spurring housing sales.Monte Cannon, president of Cannon Builders in Troy, told the board that failure to loosen the rules may result in home builders putting their time and resources into other communities. Cannon Builders are the developers of the Field of Dreams subdivision near Warrenton High School. Cannon said he has 38 lots he needs to sell in Field of Dreams.Emily Wineland, staff vice president for public policy for the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri, echoed Cannon. “The builders are interested in Warrenton, we want to help you grow, but that’s if you want us.”The 2 by 2 directional signs would be put out on weekends and picked up on Monday, Wineland said.Home building has been slow in Warrenton. Last year only five home building permits were issued. So far this year six permits have been issued, according to Jack Hanff, city zoning officer/building commissioner.Wineland said a potential homeowner is not going to purchase a home or join a community if he cannot find the home he seeks.Cannon said directional signs were key to home sales because newer developments were not yet on Google Maps and GPS devices.“It is impossible to get people to the housing developments from Interstate 70 through town without the signage,” said Cannon.Several aldermen said they hoped to find a middle ground, one that would allow for signs, but not so many signs over such a long period of time that they would become a nuisance.Alderman John Cornell said the directional signs, often located in the Missouri Department of Transportation right of way, violate the law. “You are asking us to violate the law and our own codes,” he said.Said Wineland: “We are asking you to do what most cities do. The vast majorities of cities and counties all do this. The legality of it, that is you all’s decision.”Wineland admitted that federal and state law prohibit any items in the right of way.“But think of all the things you see in right of ways. The little crosses. Garage sale signs. Lost puppy signs. All are against federal law. Most cities still allow for it,” said Wineland. “MoDOT has bigger problems than lost puppy and home-this-way signs.”Wineland said MoDOT enforces the signage laws during the week, but not on weekdays. “Come Monday morning if the signs are still up they go in the trash. And the signs are too costly for the home builders not to retrieve them on the weekends.”Cornell replied,”I understand your dilemma, but I don’t understand this desire to ask us to ignore our own regulations.”“Most cities are asking us to tell them how we can grow,” said Wineland.City attorney Chris Graville said that Cannon Builders is not interested in temporary signs in the city’s right of way. Just in the MoDOT right of way. Graville noted that about six years ago following a municipal election people were leaving signs up in the MoDOT right of way. MoDot was not removing the signs.“They were perpetually staying up there,” said Graville.This caused residents to complain. MoDOT granted the city permission to remove signs in the state right of way. “We’ve kept Highway 47 clean by cleaning out the right of way,” Graville said.The issue is expected to revisited at a board of aldermen meeting later in the year.Homebuilders, City Clash over Signs