By Mark Baratelli
City Council voted unanimously in January to bring more digital billboards to Orlando. City Council, together with the billboard industry, made adjustments to an ordinance "that benefit the (billboard industry) partners," according to City documents.
They did this through the adoption of Ordinance Number 2017-41 which amended Chapter 64 of the Land Development Code. Read the whole thing here.
The City claims constructing more digital billboards is "in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare" and "will not harm the City’s natural beauty and scenery." They said it "assists in the City of Orlando in its continuing goal of reducing sign clutter by adding new digital sign technologies."
All City-led meetings about this ordinance were held solely with members of the billboard industry according to City documents. Noticeably absent were civic groups, professional urban planners, arts groups and any experts in civic design and city beautification.
This ordinance will also help developers. The ordinance will preempt potential redevelopment roadblocks. City documents say "Billboards could thwart potential redevelopment opportunities if left in place. These areas are typically adjacent to residential development, or are likely to become increasingly mixed-use with new residential development along these corridors."
No digital billboards are allowed in the following areas:
City Council voted unanimously in January to bring more digital billboards to Orlando. City Council, together with the billboard industry, made adjustments to an ordinance "that benefit the (billboard industry) partners," according to City documents.
They did this through the adoption of Ordinance Number 2017-41 which amended Chapter 64 of the Land Development Code. Read the whole thing here.
The City claims constructing more digital billboards is "in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare" and "will not harm the City’s natural beauty and scenery." They said it "assists in the City of Orlando in its continuing goal of reducing sign clutter by adding new digital sign technologies."
All City-led meetings about this ordinance were held solely with members of the billboard industry according to City documents. Noticeably absent were civic groups, professional urban planners, arts groups and any experts in civic design and city beautification.
This ordinance will also help developers. The ordinance will preempt potential redevelopment roadblocks. City documents say "Billboards could thwart potential redevelopment opportunities if left in place. These areas are typically adjacent to residential development, or are likely to become increasingly mixed-use with new residential development along these corridors."
Billboard companies must give something to the City to get the digital ones. They must remove 4 static billboards from list one to get 1 digital. Or, if they remove a static billboard from list two then they only have to remove 2 from list one.
List One:
List One:
- Downtown Orlando CRA/Downtown View Corridor Zone.
- Colonial Drive East (Orange Avenue to City limit)
- Colonial Drive West (CRA line west to City limit)
- OBT Corridor (South of Colonial Dr. to City limit)
- North John Young Parkway (WD Judge Road to north of OBT)
- International Drive/South Kirkman/Sand Lake/Conroy Rd.
- Semoran Blvd (City limit south to Beachline Expy.
List Two
- 2830 S. Orange Avenue
- 1508 E. Michigan Street
- 1323 N. Orange Avenue
- 2912 Edgewater Drive
- 201 N. Bumby Avenue
- 717 N. Mills Avenue
- 2601 Delaney Avenue
- 2702 S. Orange Avenue
- 1001 N. Mills Avenue
- 1349 N. Mills Avenue
- 2720 E .Robinson Street
- 3500 Curry Ford Road
- 802 W. Church Street
- 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail
- 1500 W. Smith Street
- 3117 S. Orange Avenue
No digital billboards are allowed in the following areas:
- John Young Parkway from Silver Star Road south to the southern entrance of Orlando Executive Park
- Princeton Street from Silver Star Road to Orange Blossom Trail
- Semoran Boulevard from Hoffner Road south to the City limits, including the Orlando International Airport
- All roadways within or abutting Loch Haven Park, including Lake Estelle and its shoreline
- Lake Ivanhoe and all roadways abutting its shorelines
- Orange Avenue
- State Road 408 from Conway Road west to Bumby Avenue;
- I-4 from Princeton Street to Michigan Avenue;
- Mills avenue from the northern City limits south to Virginia Drive;
- Kirkman Road, I-4 north to the City limits; and
- Any view corridor described in the Urban Design Element of the Growth Management Plan, Figure UD-32, as amended.
They're allowed in the following locations within 150 feet of the right-of-way along limited access highways or a designated state arterial roadway:
- I-G General Industrial
- I-P Industrial Park
- I-C Industrial - Commercial AC-1 Activity Center
- AC-2 Activity Center
- AC-3 Activity Center
- AC-N Activity Center
- MU-2 High Intensity Mixed Use Corridor, located within 150 feet of the right-of-way, only along limited access roadways.
Commissioner Samuel B. Ings moved and Commissioner Robert F. Stuart seconded a motion that the ordinance be adopted on 2nd reading. Mayor Dyer opened the public hearing and the following person appeared for comment: Craig Swygert of Clear Channel Outdoor, spoke in support of the ordinance and thanked certain City employees for their cooperation. Discussion was had among Commissioner Tony Ortiz and Chief Planner Jason Burton. Mayer Dyer closed the public hearing and City Council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance.