Citizens, Industry Battle on Digital Billboard Regulations

Digital billboards continue to cause kerfuffles between the billboard industry and the public, in city councils across the country. Here’s a round-up of some of the digital billboard battles taking place this week:

• The Cook County Board in Illinois voted earlier this week to reject zoning applications for a pair of digital billboards in unincorporated Lemont along the new Interstate Highway 355 where it crosses the Des Plaines River. Strong local opposition to the boards helped seal the vote (via the Chicago Tribune).
• Mobile (Ala.) City Council members have rejected a proposed 120-day moratorium on new electronic billboards. A Lamar Advertising general manager who sits on the Council refused to vote in favor of the moratorium, even after council members said they would grant exceptions to two electronic billboards his company had already ordered (via the AP and Al.com).
• The state of Texas is reviewing comments on the pros and cons of digital billboards on Texas highways. Many members of the general public oppose the idea. The transportation department received more than 480 letters during the three-month period that ended earlier this month; of those 386 were against digital billboards. All but one of the 241 comments received from billboard industry interests supported the signs (via the Dallas Morning News). 
• Following protests from neighborhood councils and community activists, the Los Angeles City Council has postponed consideration of a south L.A. park project that included the allowance of several new billboards, including two digital ones, alongside the 10 Freeway downtown (via CityWatchLA.com).
• Albany, Georgia, city commissioners voted for a 60-day moratorium on digital sign permits in order to review its sign ordinance and determine how to regulate “the new advertising technology (via WALB News).
• In Quakertown, Pennsylvania, two 20-foot high electronic roadside signs will soon go up on Route 309, despite opposition from locals (via Phillyburbs.com).