The Watauga County Planning Board is considering a recommendation
to freeze new billboards and create local regulation of digital
billboards, though the public will get several opportunities to
weigh in on the issue.
Digital billboards, such
as the one at the intersection of U.S. 421 and Old U.S.
421, are facing scrutiny by the Watauga County commissioners.
File photo
The planning board has been discussing changeable electronic variable-message
signs since the county commissioners enacted a moratorium in June
to allow time to study the issue. The commissioners later voted
to extend the moratorium, which is scheduled to expire on April
23.
Planning director Joe Furman said the word “ban” is
not in the recommendation the planning board is considering, though
one idea is to allow no new billboards at new locations in the
unincorporated areas of the county.
The proposed amendment would also regulate the brightness and
intensity of digital or variable-message billboards, as well as
the frequency at which the messages rotate.
Existing billboards would be unaffected by the amendment as long
as they are kept in good repair, unless the amount of any damage
is more than 60 percent of the appraised value of the sign. Under
the proposal, some existing billboards could be replaced with
changeable electronic variable-message signs.
The planning board has scheduled a public hearing on the proposed
amendment for Monday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. The hearing is the next
step in the board’s recommendation to the county commissioners.
Any change to the sign ordinance would require a separate public
hearing by the county commissioners.
The ordinance establishing the moratorium acknowledges that the
county’s existing sign ordinance didn’t address new
technology and “public concern has been raised regarding
serious highway safety regarding the changeable electronic variable
message signs, the level of distraction from changeable electronic
variable message signs and other operational characteristics of
changeable message signs, and regarding the aesthetic impact of
changeable message signs to the community.”
Under state regulations, outdoor signs are limited to a maximum
of 1,200 square feet, 30 feet in height and 60 feet in length.
Signs can’t interfere with traffic or traffic signals and
on freeways, and billboards must be at least 500 feet apart. Outside
of incorporated towns or cities, billboards on state-controlled
routes must be at least 300 feet apart.
“Automatic changeable facing signs” must maintain a
fixed image for at least eight seconds and can’t have animated
or scrolling advertising, nor can they contain flashing or moving
lights. Such signs must be at least 1,000 feet apart.
The planning board took a broader look at the impact of billboards
and the county’s sign ordinance, which generally follows
state guidelines.
Based on public input from the hearing, the board will determine
whether the amendment and existing sign ordinance adequately address
the general impacts of both standard and digital billboards, as
well as safety concerns.
Research has been mixed on whether digital or variable-message
signs create a distraction and hazard to drivers.
Watauga County previously had a billboard battle over the designation
of U.S. 421’s Doc and Merle Watson Highway as a “Scenic
Byway,” with property-rights advocates in conflict with those
who felt the scenic value was important to the county’s culture
and tourist economy.
On the Web
Current sign ordinance: www.wataugacounty.org/planning/ordinances.shtml
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