National Reports from Scenic America

Walgreen Co. Signs Design Guidelines With City of Chicago. -- Chicago Tribune -- June 26, 1999.  After receiving numerous complaints that its cookie-cutter stores did not fit in with existing urban neighborhoods, Walgreen has signed design guidelines calling for better design in the buildings.  The guidelines are designed to prevent construction of auto-oriented stores that are set back in parking lots and feature a minimalist, concrete-box look without windows or ornamentation.  "This in some ways captures some of the frustrations that municipalities around the country have regarding some of the franchises, and particularly drugstores," said David Doig, Chicago's assistant commissioner of planning.  "Our concern with Walgreens has been that they typically come into neighborhoods on commercial strips and build stores that don't fit into the context of the urban fabric," Doig added.  Some of the guidelines included in the Walgreen agreement have already been incorporated in a city ordinance intended to make strip shopping centers more compatible with city neighborhoods.

Spokane County, Washington, Officials Propose Billboard Ban. -- Spokesman - Review -- June 8, 1999.  The county planning commission is recommending a billboard ban after hearing from scores of people who hate billboards.  "I didn't hear any citizens saying, 'I love billboards, please don't ban them,'" said commission member Clyde Haase.  Under the proposal, the county would allow no new billboards and existing ones would have to go within 12 years.  The proposal has bi-partisan support.  "I'm a pro-business Republican and conservative, so to get me to vote for this took a lot of soul searching," said board member Mike Schrader.  Schrader and others were swayed by the testimony of the billboard opponents and by the silence of anyone (other than sign owners) who like the signs.

Seattle City Council Enacts Six-Month Moratorium on Video Billboards. -- Seattle Times --June 2, 1999.  On June 1 the Seattle City Council pulled the plug on high-tech video billboards.  The city council enacted the six-month moratorium to give them time to come up with new regulations for these signs that feature animation or rapidly changing copy.  The moratorium includes a complete ban on video signs in neighborhoods, historic districts and near the water.  Interest in video billboards was sparked by a sign near Fife along I-5 south of Seattle that has enraged local politicians who consider it a traffic hazard.

Judge Upholds Constitutionality of Houston's Billboard Law. -- Houston Chronicle -- June 11, 1999.  After 12 years of litigation Texas State District Judge Jane Bland said that she would uphold Houston's billboard law.  Houston first passed the law in 1980 and amended it in 1985 and 1992.  The 1992 amendment banned all off-premise signs within city limits.  Opponents argued that the amortization periods were unconstitutional.  "This is a tremendous victory for Houston and goes a long way toward reducing the number of billboards seen all over the place," said Assistant City Attorney Kevin Aiman.  Scenic Texas has worked many years as advocates for tough billboard laws.

Business Leaders Becoming Active in Efforts to Curb Urban Sprawl. -- Environmental News Network -- June 15, 1999.  Business leaders are taking a stand against sprawl according to a study by the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP).  "Smart growth isn't anti-growth," said James P. Dodge, chairman, president and CEO of Providence Energy Corporation.  "Rather, it aims to examine and refocus a pattern of development so that already established cities, towns and villages can thrive and remain tangible manifestations of outstanding quality of life."  According to a majority of the business people interviewed, maintaining a quality work force is a major challenge in today's economy.  Businesses in areas that are experiencing a decline in overall quality of life are finding it difficult to recruit and keep competent workers.  For more information check out the NALGEP website at http://www.nalgep.org/.

Rancho Mirage, CA, Dealing with Billboard Lawsuit. -- Desert Sun -- June 9, 1999.  Some residents of Rancho Mirage would love to see the billboards along Highway 111 disappear for good.  "They're an eyesore," said resident Ken Glassman, vice president of the 600 member Rancho Mirage Concerned Citizens and husband of Mayor Marilyn Glassman.  The group is hoping that a grassroots movement will lead to the removal of the signs and greater local control of billboards for cities concerned with visual pollution.  The city of Rancho Mirage already has its hands tied with pending litigation in federal court.  After the city amended their sign ordinance banning billboards in the city, Fairway Outdoor Advertising brought an action against the city claiming the ban was unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

Billboard Company Uses Threat of Lawsuit to Strong-Arm Pompano Beach, Florida. -- Sun-Sentinel.com -- June 20, 1999.  Adventure Outdoor Advertising claims that the city is violating its First Amendment right to free speech by not allowing it to put up billboards.  Adventure Outdoor has stated that if the city does not change its policy, the consequences could be costly.  Unfortunately, city commissioners said they will reconsider whether billboards are so visually unappealing that keeping their policy of no new billboards is worth the risk of losing a lawsuit.  Some city officials have stated their opposition to giving into the billboard operators.  "If you look out on a city that is completely covered with large billboards, it is offensive to the eye," said Vice Mayor Herb Skolnick.  Commissioner Kay McGinn says she is more interested in residents' quality of life.  "I am not in favor of ugly billboards anywhere in the city," she said.  "I don't want any billboards.  Go to court.  Fight it.  We'll win it."  "I hate 'em," Commissioner Rex Hardin said of billboards.  "It's visual pollution.  Billboards are not conducive for a beautiful town."