New Type Of Billboard May Come To Mobile

By Steve Alexander Reporter
.

Mobile City Council set to discuss amendment to city's sign ordinance New Type Of Billboard May Come To Mobile
Published: Fri, May 16, 2008 - 8:21 pm
Steve Alexander
Steve Alexander
The Mobile City Council is scheduled to discuss a proposed amendment to the city's sign ordinance next week.
That amendment could pave the way for a different type of digital sign.
Oasis Ad Group of Frankfort, Kentucky wants to place storage bins with digital billboards in different parts of Mobile.
Attorney Doug Anderson is representing the group.
He said, "These pods will be filled with emergency supplies in case of a natural disaster. They would have water, tarps, and first aid equipment."
Only police, fire, and emergency crews would have access to the supplies.
Anderson said, "The material inside is free to the community. Its paid for by people purchasing advertising on the side of the unit."
A test unit was put up for three months earlier this year at Broad and Conti Streets.
Anderson said there was "big positive feedback. (We) had a couple of negative comments, of course, but a high majority of positive feedback."
But Mobile Urban Development Director Laura Clark said the comments she received were mostly negative.
Clark said, "It was very distracting to vehicle drivers, even to pedestrians and bicyclists. They thought it was too bright."
As for the city getting free emergency supplies, Clark said, "We question whether or not that public need or service outweighs the impact its going to have on our city's landscape."
What's more, Clark said the amendment would also lift the cap on the number of billboards in general.
She said, "Without the cap, we could see a proliferation of them, first of all along our major streets and our secondary streets. We could see them at the entrances to neighborhoods if the property is zoned accordingly."
The city council is scheduled to take up the issue at its next meeting, Wednesday, May 21.



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Well it probably would be best to let the people in the Immediate neighborhood of the proposed site vote YEA or NAY. Letting people not in the neighborhood decide what’s good for you ,I don’t think is a good idea. In a disaster there are never enough supplies and the city and churches and other organizations are all ready stretched to the breaking point,and every little bit would help,if the people in the neighborhood voted to accept these bill boards they would have a little additional help in time of need. Let the people vote on it.

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How much does it take for a city to sell itself to the highest commercial bidder?  Good public policy is the best decision for the MOST people.  This is a good decision for Oasis.  If the citizens need emergency goods, they should be able to rely on the city, churches, or non-profits without having spam in their faces.  If Oasis was truly a good corporate citizen, they could even hand out emergency packets with their LOGO on the outside.  But this isn’t about Oasis being a good corporate citizen, it’s about Oasis wanting to increase their profits at the city’s expense and blasting the citizens with unwanted advertisements. VOTE NO to this short-sided proposal.

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I think I would be more worried about people on cell phones than bill boards. My self or my family have never been hit by someone looking at a bill board but have twice by people talking on cell phones. Things to run into,to hide behind and break into are allready there,this way the community gets something in return.

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The concept is great, but they need to be put in area’s where people live and that creates many problem’s from traffic to eyesore, including breakin’s. And I quess laura clark does not live in mobile or else she wears rose colored glasses. We are so sign blighted.  We have enough problem trying to fine street no’s, read signs, watching out for the other driver, traffic light’s timed wrong, vehicles with no break light’s, buses stopped in lanes, lack of turn signal use, etc. Have you wondered why all these vehicles have all these little dings, dents, scraps, broken tailights, sagging bumbers, hanging mirrors, etc.  Get a grip and do something positive for a change.

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You also get new things to run into, to break into and to hide behind.

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Come on city council ! Haven’t you ever watched BLADE RUNNER? Those were hugh ,these are very small compared to those and you get emergency supplies and possibly temporary emergency housing if need be.

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