Submitted by shawn on 6 May 2010 - 1:22pm
The digital billboard code being negotiated as part of a lawsuit settlment with ClearChannel (owner of most of the billboards in Tampa) made a suprise appearance on today's city council agenda. Sitting at item number 66, this new code will allow digital billboards in certain areas of town that generally run along commercial corridors and the freeways.
The suprise listing of this item on today's agenda was noticed by OSHNA member Ingrid Smith. The item reads:
66. File No. E2009-8 CH 20.5 (Ordinance being presented for first reading consideration) - An ordinance of the City of Tampa, Florida, making comprehensive revisions to City of Tampa Code or Ordinances, Chapter 20.5 (Signs); amending Section 20.5-11, Billboard Signs; amending Section 20.5-12, Off-Site Signs; View Corridors; amending Section 20.5-15, Prohibited Signs Enumerated; repealing all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict therewith; providing for severability; providing an effective date. - (Originally presented to Council in September of 2009) - (Ordinance had been removed from the workshop agenda scheduled on April 22, 2010 and had been placed on the May 6, 2010 agenda for first reading.)
Roadways that may have billboards are limited to:
(ii) Designated Roadways. For purposes o this section, Designated Roadways shall be only [emphasis added]:
(1) FAP and FAI Roadways
(a) All of Interstate 275 and Interstate 4
(b) All of Dale Mabry Highway
(c) Gandy Boulevard from Westshore to Dale Mabry Highway
(d) Hillsborough Avenue from Veterans Expressway to Dale Mabry Highway.
(2) Non-FAP and FAI Roadways
(a) Fowler Avenue from Interstate 275 to McKinley Street
(b) Busch Boulevard from Interstate 275 to 40th Street
(c) Columbus Boulevard/Boy Scout Boulevard from Himes to Memorial Parkway
(d) Henderson Boulevard from Dale Mabry Highway to Swann
(e) Westshore Boulevard from Interstate 275 to Boy Scout Boulevard
(f) Downtown Central Business District (exclusive of designated view corridors)
Certain areas of town are exempted from any billboards, including some of the historic districts like Hyde Park, but not Tampa Heights nor Seminole Heights. Exempted "view corridors" are:
(b) The following are designated as "view corridors" in the city:
(1) Kennedy Boulevard from its point of intersection with I-275 on the west to its point of intersection with the Hillsborough River on the east, at a width of two hundred fifty (250) feet in each direction measured from the centerline of Kennedy Boulevard.
(2) MacDill Avenue from its point of intersection with West De Leon Street on the north to its point of intersection with West Bay Haven Drive to the south, at a width of two hundred fifty (250) feet in each direction measured from the centerline of MacDill Avenue.
(3) Within the boundaries of the Central Business District as established by section 27-437(a) herein.
(4) Within the boundaries of the Hyde Park Historic District, as established by City of Tampa Ordinance No. 88-199.
(5) Within the boundaries of the Ybor City Historic District, as established by section 27-177 herein.
(6) Florida Avenue from its point of intersection with Humphrey Street on the south to approximately three-tenths (3/10) mile north of its intersection with Busch Boulevard, at a width of two hundred fifty (250) feet in each direction measured from the centerline of Florida Avenue.
I-275 travels right through the local historic district between Hillsborough Blvd and Hanna avenue.
Tampa publishes a Tampa "C.A.R.E.S." newsletter and mails them out to individuals and publishes a version online that lists items on various city agendas. There is a link on the OSHNA site under the Land Use committee page. Not every item gets listed, and this one did not. The package that is attached to the item and provided to councilmembers already contains electronically submitted comment, including my own.
If you are motivated to, I recommend writing an email to City Council and let them know your thoughts. Please consider requesting similar consideration for our historic areas just like Ybor and Hyde Park.
-Shawn