[Durham INC] DDI blinks on blinking billboards....

[John Schelp]

folks,

Let us celebrate a victory for the community... 

In choosing to do nothing, the DDI board decided not to support the billboard industry.

This decision represents a set-back for those trying to stick big, bright, flashing billboards near our homes, schools, churches, and parks. (Thanks go to those DDI board members who spoke out against this terrible idea.)

The struggle continues to stop the billboard industry from overturning the current ban on electronic billboards in Durham. 

But today we celebrate a victory for common sense.

have a great weekend,
John


January 15, 2009

Mr. Paul Hickman
General Manager
Fairway Outdoor Advertising
P. O. Box 10545
Raleigh, NC  27605

Dear Paul,

Several weeks ago Steve Toler and you asked that the DDI Board of Directors consider your request to the City of Durham related to revised text amendment language related to the outdoor advertising industry in Durham.

What follows is a summary of the DDI Board’s lengthy and thoughtful discussion, and its decision.

As DDI understands, last summer, Fairway Outdoor Advertising submitted an application, which is still pending, for a text amendment revision to the UDO related to Durham’s billboard ordinance.  After submitting its application, Fairway representatives met with members of Planning Department, which forwarded the application to the Joint City-County Planning Committee for review. The JCCPC recommended to Fairway that it begin a process of meeting with community organizations to discuss the billboard proposal.  Following the JCCPC meeting, we understand that Fairway withdrew the draft language portion of its text amendment application; and, in good faith, began scheduling meetings for its community outreach effort.  After completing its community outreach effort, Fairway may re-submit revised draft text amendment language as part of its current application.

So, technically, until Fairway re-submits formal draft text amendment language for its application, currently there is no formal text amendment “on the table.”

While there is no formal text amendment language to consider at this time, DDI recognizes the substantial community interest about this issue, and in keeping with DDI’s long standing effort to lend its voice to the discussion of important community issues, and responding to a request of Fairway, a DDI Partner in Progress, the DDI Board of Directors held a lengthy and thoughtful discussion at its meeting on January 15th.

After very careful consideration of facts as understood by the members present, and of the pros and cons of how this issue relates to our community, and in particular downtown, members of the Board of Directors were unable to come to a consensus on any recommendation, and therefore DDI voted to take no action related to this issue.

In the interest of disclosure to Fairway and the public, the Board asked that I elaborate on the reason for our decision to take no action.

The Board’s discussion focused on three main areas:  the repair and landscaping of billboards currently in our community; the possible relocation of billboards within the community; and, the issue of allowing digital billboards.

Board members did wish to encourage the repair and landscaping of billboards currently in our community.  Members were of the opinion that given the unsightly nature of many Durham roadsides, and of some billboards, our community’s appearance would benefit from the repair and landscaping of current billboards.  However, repair or upgrade of billboards is difficult.  As DDI understands, the current Durham billboard ordinance allows for routine maintenance and for repairs as long as those repairs do not exceed 25% of the value of the billboard in any given year, or the repairs do not use substantially different materials. For example, if an outdoor advertising company attempted to replace a wood billboard frame with a metal frame, it would be difficult to make the upgrade since wood is a very different material than metal, and the cost would probably exceed 25% of the value of the billboard.

In regard to the issue of relocation of billboards, Board members were uncertain of any criteria that have been recommended to insure that any relocated billboard would not harm the visual appeal of any Durham neighborhood, including downtown.  For example, without specific guidelines, Board members discussed whether or not billboards could be erected in an area that might result in an unsightly cluster effect, or might harm a neighborhood’s curb appeal, or, in the case of downtown, might block downtown’s emerging skyline.  As a result of this uncertainty, the Board recommends to the community that if Fairway re-submits text amendment language, the issue of relocation would benefit from a community discussion about appropriate criteria for relocation; and, that serious thought should be given to the formation of a commission of government, community and industry representatives which would consider any relocation of billboards along Durham’s main
corridors.

Very serious consideration was given to the issue of allowing digital billboards in our community.  Members of the Board could come to no consensus on whether or not digital billboards brought value or harm to our community --- and it was clear that a consensus was not going to be achieved.  If one assumes that digital billboards are an effective message provider, some Board members saw value in digital billboards as they relate to marketing downtown events, providing opportunities for less expensive marketing for downtown businesses, and providing amber alerts and other emergency messages that could benefit our community.  On the other hand, other Board members were concerned about the visual impact of digital billboards, especially since no one could be certain where future digital billboards might be located (other than on main corridors, and near commercial areas), and what impact they might have on any neighborhood (some neighborhoods may be located
near commercial areas) in Durham.  Since Board members were simply not knowledgeable about where digital billboards would be located, and therefore would not know what impact they might have on any neighborhood, Board members could not reach any consensus.

In the final analysis, the DDI Board of Directors is composed of 45 thoughtful business, community and political leaders.  These 45 people will have different opinions of what is good, or not good, for our community’s future growth.  Sometimes, not often, reaching a consensus on a controversial community issue is simply not possible.  And, in those instances, we have an obligation to agree to disagree with each other, and vote to take the action to take no action.

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss my Board’s decision further, please feel free to give me a call.

Cordially yours,


William A. Kalkhof
President

Cc:  Mr. Steve Toler