Billboard Code Revisions: Public Hearing - Wednesday, March 16
If internet chatter and neighborhood council meetings are reliable harbingers, City of Tacoma officials can expect a large crowd for Wednesday’s public hearing on proposed changes to billboard regulations. Meetings about code changes do not traditionally draw large inquisitive crowds, but when regulatory momentum shifts from a restrictive approach toward billboards to a permissive settlement with a faceless media conglomerate, a certain amount of popular incredulity can be anticipated.
While advocates of the sign code revisions have remained relatively quiet (the word “relatively” is often used relatively loosely) the Central Neighborhood Council has sent out a letter urging residents to join them in opposing the proposed sign code revisions, saying:
1. The approval for the first 10 digital billboards in our neighborhoods, as addressed in the Settlement Agreement, is not a done deal. Clear Channel has not signed the settlement agreement, it has just been approved by the City Council. Let your voice be heard to, NO DIGITAL BILLBOARDS, ESPECIALLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
The CNC [Central Neighborhood Council] has a number of recommendations based on what the Planning Commission proposes. Attached is a summary of our recommendations and reasons. In summary:
1. Moratorium on digital billboards until 2021.
2. If no to 1, then no digital billboards in our neighborhoods (“special receiving areas”) and increase the sensitive use buffer from 250-feet to 1000-feet in areas zoned for billboards (maps attached).
3. If no to 1 and 2, at least reduce increase the sensitive use buffer to 1000-feet, decrease the size of the digital billboards in sensitive use areas from 672 square feet (a 14-foot by 48-foot billboard) to 300 square feet and increase the 8 seconds per advertisement cycle to reflect the location and the time the driver will see the advertisement so drivers are only looking at one advertisement not multiple advertisements.
We have corresponded with individuals from the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, who have prepared a similar statement. A preliminary draft of their statement voiced concern about the process by which the agreement with ClearChannel was reached.
The City of Tacoma has done its best to provide the technical details of the proposed revisions, which are available here. A copy of the public hearing notice, with a summary of the immediate effects, can be viewed here.
If you’re interested in attending the hearing, details are posted below. Representatives from Exit133 will be in attendance to take stock of the proceedings. We look forward to advertising our blog on a flashing screen (In Tacoma, Shining Brightly Above Your Cross Streets, By Choice!), perhaps following an advertisement for the locavorian aspects of major fast food chains.
Exit133’s coverage of the developmental history of this issue can be found here: Billboard Compromise – Background Data.
Planning Commission Public Hearing on Billboard Sign Code Revisions
Location: City Council Chambers, Tacoma Municipal Building at 747 Market Street (1st Floor)
Time: 5:00pm, Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Filed under: Billboards
9 comments
J Jack Chamberlin March 16, 2011
These hideously ugly, buzzing, glowing, electro-magnetic spewing monstrosities will completely un-do the years of historic preservation so many have worked for in our neighborhoods.
If the over-sized electronic billboard goes up at South Tacoma Way and 56th, then I give up and will leave Tacoma since that will be proof to me this no longer a liveable city for residents; if you live in Tacoma your only value is simply as an advertising opportunity for corporations.
Thanks for nothing, City Council, I’ll move to a town that votes in the best interest of residents instead of out-of-town companies. This city is now owned by Clear Channel and GEO Group.
M Mofo from the Hood March 16, 2011
Are these billboards merely projection screens or are they something more diabolical like disguised spy camera’s?
D Daniel March 16, 2011
my personal opinion, and not that of this site:
Municipal codes are written to increase the benefits, beautification, preservation, edification and protection of municipal values and culture. These proposed revisions might be the first time a code is re-written to decrease those actions. And this might be the first time a code is re-written for the benefit of one out-of-town, out-of-state business, to the arguable detriment of the inhabitants of the City.
H Heidi March 16, 2011
It’s been suggested that one of the things Clear Channel does with their massive electronic billboards is to slyly put cell phone antennas on them. I’d like to know if the city is aware of this, if they’ve approved it and if there’s any verbiage about it in the agreements… I’d like to have language added stating it’s not allowed. Electro-magnetic waves are one thing, cell radiation is another.
D Daniel March 17, 2011
Another thing i don’t understand about ClearChannel’s law suit: If indeed Tacoma’s 1997 code changes ARE restrictions on free speech, why is ClearChannel willing to accept OTHER restrictions on free speech – such as sign size restrictions, setback restrictions, zoning restrictions, etc? It seems the only restriction that threatens their free speech is quantity restriction. And that’s just illogical.
If ClearChannel had perfect free speech rights, they could make a sign as big as Mason County. The sign could rotate pinwheel-style. It could hang over a boulevard. It could have dancers wearing sexy top-hats on the maintenance platform. But no, they can’t have signs like that, and that’s a loss of free speech. But they don’t complain.
M Mofo from the Hood March 17, 2011
I’m trying to sort out which problem the general public is outraged about.
1) Does Clear Channel have an equal opportunity to conduct business in Tacoma?
2) Is the problem sign message content? For example: Wright Park annual festival “Out in the Park.”
3) Clear Channel defaults on its contractual obligations?
4) Clear Channel screens don’t come with a keyboard?
R RR Anderson March 17, 2011
question for Mofo from the Hood.
What do you do with the little paper cards that drop out all over from the pages of your men’s magazines? Just ignore them? brush them off your lap?
M Mofo from the Hood March 17, 2011
Mr. Anderson, you’re the guy who wears a baseball hat with the personal identifier “Tagro.”
R RR Anderson March 17, 2011
one hat of many.