The development board is replacing the "blue signs", which feature pictures of the attractions in towns around the Waitaki district, with uniform "district branding" signs.
But the Waihemo board has objected and wants to keep its blue signs, as well as having the new signs on new sites.
"Our small towns are proud of their blue signs," Waihemo board member Diane Curtis told the council when it was considering the issue this week.
She said the development board had promised to consult the community board before the signs were replaced but had not done so.
The board felt it was being forced into accepting the new district branding signs.
Council chief executive Michael Ross acknowledged consultation had not taken place, which he regretted.
The development board was asking the council for policy direction so the blue signs could be replaced at Hampden, Moeraki and Palmerston, he said.
However, the council declined to go that far and instead required the development board to consult the community board before updating the district signs.
Cr Kathy Dennison, who represents the Waihemo ward, said the community was "quite passionate" about the existing blue signs.
Cr Gary Kircher said finding new sites for the district branding signs and obtaining resource consent to erect them would not be cheap.
The Waihemo area should help pay for that.
Cr Peter Garvan believed the issue should be handled by the development board.
It was not the council's role to micro-manage the process.
Cr Jim Hopkins described the district branding signs as bland and ineffectual.
The more flamboyant the signs were, the better to attract attention, he said.
