[Durham INC] [pac2] Developments regarding Electronic billboards in Durham
Kelly Jarrett
kjj1 at duke.edu
Fri Jan 16 19:43:33 EST 2009
Bill--
You're right . . . . it's really quibbling . . .
TheOcean1 at aol.com wrote:
>
> Sure hope I don't add to the confusion, but it's my understanding
> there is no current proposal on the table.
>
> As I understand it, Fairway approached elected officials with a
> proposed text amendment. Elected officials suggested they get
> community input, which we've been supplying, no prying required.
> During that input gathering, I believe Fairway pulled it's request to
> amend the text of the UDO, and that's where we stand currently.
>
> Since there is no language yet, there is nothing presently to voice an
> exact opinion about.
>
> I hold some general opinions that relate to this topic.
> First, that we are a community that is capable of voicing our
> collective opinion, which I think Durham proves on a regular basis.
> Secondly, that we are, or should be, a community that is able to
> intelligently evaluate all offers, be it Bio Labs, tethering dogs, or
> adding a Prepared Meals Tax. To do that well, we have to place
> everything on the same flat playing field. We are most able to do that
> when we don't confuse the issues with misleading statements, such as
> calling the prepared meals tax a "food tax".
>
> Lastly, that we are blessed as a community to have sufficient forums
> where we can examine the issues before us. If those forums are like
> windows, then we all have a vested reason to keep the glass as clean
> as possible, so that our collective vision is as clear as possible.
>
> It might sound like quibbling when you point to exact wording, such as
> "food tax", but some terms serve only to incite riot, and dirty the
> window we are all trying to see through.
>
> Sometimes these terms are introduced with the intention of inflaming
> or obscuring, as I believe the term "food tax" was, other times they
> are accidental or just a slightly poor choice of words.
> Fortunately, during the examination of this billboard issue, there
> hasn't been too much of this. Still, even if there's only a little bit
> of dirt on our window, we should all want to clean it off.
>
> With such great respect for the folks who've been chiming in, I
> hesitate to point out even a small smudge they left on the glass. With
> that preface, I'll point to one, and you'll instantly see why it looks
> like quibbling about terminology.
>
> Someone commenting about the distraction factor said something on the
> order of "flashing new messages every few seconds". To my way of
> thinking, if someone said "couple" that would be two, if they say
> "half dozen" that would be six. The word "few" {in my mind} means
> between three and five.
> In truth, the messages change every eight seconds. That might indeed
> be a distraction, but I wouldn't call eight, a few.
> Unless I was talking with a Police officer after consuming eight
> beers, then I might want to say I'd had "a few", but it wouldn't be to
> give the officer a clear picture of how much I've had to drink in that
> case.
>
> I still haven't chimed in with my opinion yet, EXCEPT this idea. It
> won't invalidate the contention that a message changing every eight
> seconds might be distracting. Calling that "every few seconds" might
> not seem like a huge difference, but if you compound that too many
> times, you are no longer looking at the real picture.
>
> This is obviously an important and emotional issue, and because of
> that we all should give extra effort to keeping the window as clean as
> possible.
>
> I do intend on sharing my opinion, after a little more information
> gathering.
>
> Bill Anderson
>
> In a message dated 1/16/2009 1:04:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> mwshiflett at hotmail.com writes:
>
> As far as I've been able to understand from listening to both
> sides of this
> issue, at no time have I heard or seen evidence that the
> billboard industry
> is proposing to put up new ".........flashing billboards near our
> homes,
> schools, churches, and parks." From the previous INC meeting and
> from what
> I've read in the newspapers, they only want to have them along the
> current
> legal locations that they are now. That being US85, 15-501, 70
> and 147.
>
> I have not heard that they are looking at upgrading any signs to
> digital
> anywhere near any of the above.
>
> Can someone can provide confirmation or evidence of this?
>
> In the meantime, I'm still trying to understand exactly what it
> being
> proposed and presented in the text amendment.
>
> Mike Shiflett
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kelly Jarrett" <kjj1 at duke.edu>
> To: "owdNA" <owdna at yahoogroups.com>; "PAC2" <pac2 at yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 9:41 AM
> Subject: [pac2] Developments regarding Electronic billboards in Durham
>
>
> For those who have been following the electronic billboard issue, the
> following might be of interest:
>
> Forwarded from INC listserv:
>
> 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
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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