Temporary ban on LED signs

[MichaelC]

More at Tulsa World

quote:The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved an ordinance that temporarily bans LED billboards until May 1.

The ordinance also restricts the night-time brightness for existing and any newly installed smaller versions of light-emitting-diode business signs located on commercial properties.

"This is a very complicated issue and has created some potential turmoil," Councilor Bill Martinson said.

He said the issues range from safety hazards due to blinding light and distractions, to city esthetics with Las Vegas-type signage.

"It potentially affects our quality of life," he said.

The high-tech, larger-than-life billboards project digital television-like images with motion and brilliant lighting that flash and flip advertisements.

The ordinance will give the city time to establish regulations for the new technology.

The types of signs banned include digital and electronic billboards, digital display boards, and electronic variable message signs.

The council's action comes at the plea of
the city's Board of Adjustment, which has been bombarded by requests seeking special permission to install LED billboards.

[restored2x]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelC

More at Tulsa World

quote:The City Council on Thursday unanimously approved an ordinance that temporarily bans LED billboards until May 1.

The ordinance also restricts the night-time brightness for existing and any newly installed smaller versions of light-emitting-diode business signs located on commercial properties.

"This is a very complicated issue and has created some potential turmoil," Councilor Bill Martinson said.

He said the issues range from safety hazards due to blinding light and distractions, to city esthetics with Las Vegas-type signage.

"It potentially affects our quality of life," he said.

The high-tech, larger-than-life billboards project digital television-like images with motion and brilliant lighting that flash and flip advertisements.

The ordinance will give the city time to establish regulations for the new technology.

The types of signs banned include digital and electronic billboards, digital display boards, and electronic variable message signs.

The council's action comes at the plea of
the city's Board of Adjustment, which has been bombarded by requests seeking special permission to install LED billboards.

Where's Patric? I'd love to hear what he has to say about this. I've learned more about lighting in the few months I've been on this forum than in all my 50 previous years of living.

[restored2x]

My bad - he's already on this - http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1777

[T-TownMike]

What a waste of precious tax dollars. We need the government to fix the big problems and quit messing with insignifigant little side projects like this.

[inteller]

they are garish.  I hope this means that nasty **** at 71st/yale gets turned off.  The make the town look like a strip in Las Vegas.

[safetyguy]

What about the annoying new signs at Sonic??

The one in Jenks lights up the town at night. It's very annoying.

[sgrizzle]

Sonic signs should be made to shut off when the store does, and dim if possible during the night.

[patric]

Jenks School system wants to install LED boards on it's campuses, and is asking the Board of Adjustment for variances to allow larger-than-allowed size (almost 54 sq ft.) and waive regulations against flashing lights.  The staff has already noted that the proposed signs are too close to residential areas.

Some of the applications:
East Intermediate School
http://www.incog.org/City%20of%20Tulsa%20BOA/BOA%20Agenda/20640a.pdf
East Elementary School
http://www.incog.org/City%20of%20Tulsa%20BOA/BOA%20Agenda/20641a.pdf

[Wrinkle]

The only one I've found personally distracting, while driving, is the one at the NE corner of the Library downtown.

It sits low to be viewed at driver's level. Not real big, but bright with lots of motion.

Very distracting.

[inteller]

NO!  No more LED signs!  I see that the TMAPC is taking up some language changes on them.  Ban them altogether.  They invade your personal visual space.  The only thing that has a right to do that is an emergency vehicle.

[patric]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

NO!  No more LED signs!  I see that the TMAPC is taking up some language changes on them.  Ban them altogether.  They invade your personal visual space.  The only thing that has a right to do that is an emergency vehicle.

There's still supposed to be a moratorium in effect, but I see new ones still going in, and existing ones in violation of the intensity limits.
Drive down south Memorial and try to distinguish them from ambulances.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by patric

quote:Originally posted by inteller

NO!  No more LED signs!  I see that the TMAPC is taking up some language changes on them.  Ban them altogether.  They invade your personal visual space.  The only thing that has a right to do that is an emergency vehicle.

There's still supposed to be a moratorium in effect, but I see new ones still going in, and existing ones in violation of the intensity limits.
Drive down south Memorial and try to distinguish them from ambulances.

the ones I'm thinking of are on 71st.  The one at 71st/Yale and the one at 71st/Mingo (Al's scumbag Bistro)

[Gaspar]

71st and Riverside at the Creek Donation Center.  Soo bright at night that I have to put my visor down to keep from wrecking the car.

The one at ORU is not much better, but my little girl does like to see Elmo on it every time we drive by, so it's a wash!

[FOTD]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

NO!  No more LED signs!  I see that the TMAPC is taking up some language changes on them.  Ban them altogether.  They invade your personal visual space.  The only thing that has a right to do that is an emergency vehicle.

I was struck this morning by all the regular illuminated signage out around town. Code enforcement here sucks big time. I'd prefer LED to old empty see throughs....

[ARGUS]

Negativity abounds on this forum. Personal attacks on places and people. Such public banter looks and sounds childish and cheapens the whole forum. Tulsa Now...what is the point? I am getting lost in the lack of moderation.
Back on topic....establish codes and enforce them or we will look like a city in Misouri that starts with a J and is on the other end of I-44.
Where is the upside? Where is the hope? Is winter that long that all you (we) CAN DO IS *****?