[Durham INC] Fairway drops digital billboard campaign (N&O and Bull City Rising)

[John Schelp]

Report: Fairway withdraws billboard request before County Commissioners meeting tonight
Bull City Rising, 13 Sept 2010

We've heard rumors all afternoon something might be afoot with tonight's billboards ordinance hearing by the County Commissioners -- including a report that the applicant, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, might be contemplating proffering changes to the proposed text amendment.

The amendment, which would have retained the existing cap on the number of billboards but allowed their reconstruction, relocation and (in some cases) conversion to digital/electronic signs, was voted down 7-0 at a City Council meeting last month.

Shortly before 6pm, word came from City/County Planning director Steve Medlin that the applicant had in fact decided to withdraw the amendment request entirely. The word came in communications to local officials, available via public record.

More on this as we learn it.

Update: BCR's Rob Gillespie passes along this quote from Old West Durham neighborhood leader and activist John Schelp, one of the most prominent voices in opposition to changes on billboards: "This is a clear defeat for the billboard industry, who had lawyers, lobbyists, glossy reports, and donated advertisements. The opponents of this measure had $12, a unified town, and over 1,000 emails in support of the current ordinance. The industry has gone into full retreat."

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Fairway drops digital billboard campaign
Bull's Eye blog (N&O), 13 Sept 2010

Tonight's anticipated showdown at the county commissioners' meeting over digital billboards in Durham County was over before it started.

At 5:36 p.m., Fairway Outdoor Advertising withdrew its request to amend the Unifed Development Ordinance so it could upgrade some of its billboards, relocate others and convert some to electronic operation.

The company made no comment or explanation for its decision, but the City Council unanimously rejected the request last month after receiving a deluge of emails opposing any change in the ordinance.

That vote left open the possibility of the county granting the request outside the city limits.

Attorney Patrick Byker, representing Fairway, withdrew the request in an email to City/County Planning Director Steve Medlin. Medlin said withdrawal "closes the case file."  To raise the issue again would require a formal request, paying fees and going through the review process from square one.

Old West Durham resident John Schelp, one of the most vocal opponents of digital billboards, called the withdrawal "a full retreat by the billboard industry."

InterNeighborhood Council President Tom Miller emailed the organization, "With the community so united against relaxing Durham’s billboard rules, the industry seems to have finally gotten the message," but added, "The billboard people are nothing if not persistent.  They’ll be back."

[And we'll be right here.]  :)

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