Front Royal wants to knock down the 13 billboards in town with the help of a potential $80,000 grant.

       The Town Council recently approved a staff request to submit a state grant under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.  If approved, the grant would require a $20,000 local match in contributions.

       The grant would allow the town to enter into negotiations with billboard owners, to acquire as many as possible and then to remove them.

       The signs range from commercial ones like for Block-Buster Video and "tracker Boats" the "Praise Ye the Lord" sign on Commerce Avenue at North Royal Avenue.

       The council voted 5-1 to ask staff to apply for the grant.  Councilman Carson Lauder, the lone opponent argued the billboards are important for economic development.

       "The state says to promote travel, tourism, and enhance scenic beauty.  That's what we're trying to do.  I have a hard time getting rid of billboards as a blanket thing…We're working hard for economic development."

       A giant billboard seeking advertisers, located at the intersection of Route 55 and Commerce Avenue, is currently in litigation over its legality.  All the others in town are allowed by right under a grandfather clause, town staff said.

       Town Planning Director Kimberley Fogle said Tuesday that billboards became an issue after many residents and tourists complained about their appearance and obstruction of scenic views.

       Billboards at Route 522 and 55 along the gateway to town off I-66, are regarded as an eyesore and counter-productive.

       They're antiquated.  Maybe 50 years ago they were appropriate, but they're now in a developed area.  They don't guide tourists.  They inhibit the way a tourist would see our community.  They're no longer attractive," she said, adding that people complained that the signs blocked their views of the mountains.

       Billboards may work to stunt the local economy, according to Fogle.  "The biggest tourism component today is heritage tourism.  People are going to communities because they have a sense of character, they show their heritage.  They provide people with new information about how other people live.  The billboards detract from that."

       The largest signs are 525 square fet each.  They are the Wendy's fast food sign along Royal Avenue headed south, before Commerce Street.

       The other billboard is blank since it has no advertisers, and is located on 522 at the North Fork bridge, Fogle said.

       If the town receives the grant, it could be awarded as early as May with funding coming in October.  The town would be required to use the money for billboards acquisition within 48 months of receiving funding, she said.

       If owners refused to sell their billboards to the town, the town could pursue condemnation in court by demonstrating an overall public purpose to be served, she said.  Condemnation wouldn't be allowed under the grant, however.

       Billboards are different from "off-premise signs," she said.  The sign at Cool Harbor Hotel is eternally lit on property owned by Via Satellite, she said.  The hotel sign is permitted by the Virginia Department of Transportation, Fogle said.