Proposal would bar billboards
By John Tompkins
The Facts
Published February 20, 2007
If state Rep. Mike O’Day has his way, the number of billboards will not match the number of crops and cows along Highway 288 between Pearland and Lake Jackson.
House Bill 1120 would prevent the construction of new “off-premises” signs on the highway between the Brazoria-Harris county line to the northern city limits of Lake Jackson.
The bill was created after several Keep America Beautiful chapters and cities in the county requested a ban on future signs, said Vince Sudela, chief of staff for O’Day.
“It’s currently being done across the state on different highways,” Sudela said.
O’Day, R-Pearland, was recovering from a stent insertion into a vein to remove blockage last week and was unavailable for comment Monday. The bill was assigned to the House Transportation Committee last week and still is under review.
“We could have possibly run into a couple blocks, but we’re still proceeding forward on it,” Sudela said. “We’re still planning on bringing the legislation forward.”
There are a few billboards along Highway 288 near its intersection with Highway 6 in Brazoria County. One advertises a new subdivision and another advertises a car dealership. A few miles farther south, there’s a billboard with big bold letters almost yelling, “GoClute.”
The sign has advertised the community well, said Jan Scott, executive director of Clute Visitor’s Bureau, which leases the billboard space.
“We get a lot of recognition from the billboard,” she said. “It’s a wonderful way to promote your business.”
State regulations regarding billboards are enough to keep them in check, said Brett Gilbreath, executive vice president of SignAd, a Houston-based company with several billboards along Highway 288 in Brazoria County.
“There’s not a lot of signs along 288,” Gilbreath said. “We’re not in favor of having a ban on off-premises signs.”
An off-premises billboard can be built only if there are at least two adjacent businesses in the area, Gilbreath said. They also cannot be within 1,000 feet of an entrance or exit ramp, he said.
“There has to be a certain level of commercial activity,” he said.
Many cities in Brazoria County, including Pearland and Lake Jackson, already have approved bans on new billboards within city limits. Those who favor O’Day’s bill say it will preserve the scenery along Highway 288.
“It keeps the highway clean,” said Brazoria County Commissioner Matt Sebesta. “It will keep property values up and make for a more scenic view.”
Billboards often are the advertising venue used by smaller business owners, Gilbreath said.
But if billboards are allowed to be constructed unchecked, it will end up hurting small business owners because they would be drowned out by larger advertisers, said Joane Weik, president of Keep Brazoria County Beautiful, which champions the bill.
----
contact
officials
How to contact local representatives with comments or questions regarding their bills:
Rep. Mike o’Day
Capitol Office
Room, E1.208
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Phone: (512) 463-0707
District Office
P. O. Box 2358
Pearland, TX 77588
Phone: (281) 997-1103
Fax: (800) 878-6826
Rep. Dennis Bonnen
Capitol Office
Room EXT E2.602
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Phone: (512) 463-0564
Fax: (512) 463-8414 Fax
District Office
122 E. Myrtle
Angleton, TX 77515
Phone: (979) 848-1770
Fax: (979) 849-3169
Please visit www.danfrankrealty.com