Should digital billboards be allowed in Lexington? Council moves proposal forward
The Lexington council is considering allowing digital billboards in Fayette County after pausing debate on the controversial issue for seven years.
During a Thursday Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council General Government and Planning Committee meeting, the committee voted to initiate a zoning text amendment to allow digital billboards.
A zoning text amendment, which changes the city’s zoning rules, can take months to complete. The full council must vote to send the zoning text amendment to the Urban County Planning Commission for review. That review can take up to 60 days. A public hearing is required on zone text amendments. After the commission makes its recommendations, it will have to return to the council, city officials said.
The proposed changes would allow digital billboards in highway business zones, warehouse and industrial zones.
Laws, lawsuits concerning digital billboards in Lexington
Current state law only allows billboards along state or federal highways. The proposed city regulations would mirror the state law. Digital billboards can also not be within 150 feet of a residential zone or a neighborhood. A digital billboard can not be within 2,500 feet of another digital billboard. Proposed city regulations say digital billboards can’t be more than 400 square feet. It also can’t contain blinking lights or animation, said Jennifer Sutton, a research analyst with the Lexington council.
The messaging of that billboard can change after 8 seconds. The transition must be immediate between messages, said Traci Wade, manager of the city’s planning services.
The council first started discussing digital billboards in 2017. However, a series of lawsuits at the federal and state level delayed debate on the issue, said Councilman Preston Worley, chairman of the General Government and Planning Committee.
“To me, this is a new technology. It’s where the advertising industry is going,” Worley said.
“This is not some sort of Times Square technology,” he said.
What about distracted driving and light pollution?
Councilwoman Hannah LeGris said she gets a lot of complaints about distracted driving.
“This could contribute to distracted driving,” LeGris said. LeGris also said she has heard a lot of concerns about light pollution from residents. Although there is a provision that digital billboards can’t be within 150 feet of a neighborhood, that distance is not that far, she said.
Councilwoman Liz Sheehan said she, too, has concerns about light pollution. Sheehan and LeGris represent many downtown neighborhoods. Many of those neighborhoods have complained about frequent light pollution.
Worley said the 8-second rule was designed so it would not distract drivers.
Councilman Dave Sevigny said that the electronic billboards use a lot of energy. Could there be a way for billboards to be turned off at night?
“Through smart technology, people can determine where people are at different times?” Sevigny said.
Wade said it was possible but in her research, she had not seen other cities or state laws address turning those digital signs off.
LeGris and Sheehan voted against moving the ordinance forward.
