Digital Billboards, revisited.

[patric]

A billboard company is challenging Tulsa's refusal to allow electronic billboards.

http://www.incog.org/City%20of%20Tulsa%20BOA/BOA%20Agenda/20539a.pdf

Lamar Advertising is seeking to overturn the denial of a permit for a digital display billboard at the July 24 Board of Adjustment meeting.
Last March, the BOA denied Lamar a variance of the rule that no billboard contain flashing or blinking lights, as well as a variance to the requirement that outdoor advertising signs be illuminated by constant light.
The BOA determined at that time that the digital display billboards, which are essentially huge video monitors made up of thousands of rapidly blinking LED's, do not comply with the zoning code.


A Daktronics LED Digital Display Billboard.

More on the new technology:
http://www.daktronics.com/electronic_message/dak_electronic_message_centers.cfm?section=Outdoor&category=Galaxy_Pro&page=GalaxyPro_34mm

More photos:
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC-05324
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=cc-06301
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC06458
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC-04743
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC06389
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC-06009
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC-04632
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC05122
http://www.daktronics.com/photo_detail.cfm?cc=CC06830

[YoungTulsan]

Animation?  Good.  Seizure inducing flashing lights?  Bad.

For examples of seizure inducing lights, check out the Creek nation casino at 81st and riverside, or the Sonic at 51st just west of Yale (I dunno if others are equally bad)

I can understand the casino being able to do whatever the hell they want, but the Sonic sign I mentioned is ridiculously bright and flashes quite a bit.  If I lived in the vicinity I would be angry as hell.

[cannon_fodder]

Doesn't bother me too much.  In some areas they would actually be welcomed as something neat.  In other areas, they might be too distracting or just so much clutter.

[Townsend]

Too bad we can't get some rules about height and size of these signs.

The highways and city streets would be so much more attractive if we weren't bombarded by scenery brought to you by Lamar.

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by YoungTulsan

I can understand the casino being able to do whatever the hell they want, but the Sonic sign I mentioned is ridiculously bright and flashes quite a bit.  If I lived in the vicinity I would be angry as hell.

Call:
Mayor's Action Center -- 596-2100
or  http://www.cityoftulsa.org/Reporting/AdvertisingSigns.asp

Reference Tulsa Zoning Code sections 1221.F.8 and 1221.F.14

We dont have sign inspectors anymore (they use electrical inspectors to answer complaints) so nothing's done unless citizens get the ball rolling.

[sgrizzle]

Electronic and Billboard to me is an unholy union. If a club wanted a LCD display on their wall to announce concerts or other information signs yes. 50ft in the air, no.

[cannon_fodder]

K, I just got back from a nice LONG drive.  I have returned TOTALLY in favor of electronic billboards.  OKC, Amarillo, Sante Fe, Albuquerque... all digital.

1)  The ones I saw were not animated.  Thus, no more distracting than a normal billboard.
2) They were easier to see if one so chose
3) They are always new looking - the signage does not get waterlogged, nor does it fade, or peel off.

I see no disadvantages if done as these other cities have done (no animation).

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I see no disadvantages if done as these other cities have done (no animation).

Unfortunately, static displays are not what the billboard industry and their customers are pushing in Tulsa.  

Think Casinos (or the county island formerly known as Expo Square) if you need an example of what to expect.

[OurTulsa]

quote:Originally posted by patric

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I see no disadvantages if done as these other cities have done (no animation).

Unfortunately, static displays are not what the billboard industry and their customers are pushing in Tulsa.  

Think Casinos (or the county island formerly known as Expo Square) if you need an example of what to expect.

If Lamar is attempting to do what they just recently implemented in OKC then they are not pushing for animation.  All of the boards in OKC contain static messages, they just change every eight seconds, which is consistent with state regs.

[cannon_fodder]

I did not see any animation on any full sized digital billboards, I would be disappointed if they wanted it here.  Perhaps a LIMITED amount of animation in non-peak hours or some such thing, but that sounds complicated.

What I saw was non-animated and looked perfectly fine (assuming billboards already).