On Thursday, January 22, Council is proposing dramatic deregulation of the Austin’s off-premise signs that would allow off‑premise electronic advertising and information boards—each roughly 86 inches diagonally, more than seven feet across—with illuminated displays placed in the public right‑of‑way (the strip on the home-side of the curb that the city controls) at bus stops (even on residential streets) and bike‑share kiosks. The proposal would also authorize 50 electronic “wayfinding” kiosks throughout “downtown.” The City of Austin’s transportation and Public Works Departments will determine a contractor and the placement of digital advertising for bus stops and bike kiosks. There are 2500 bus stops in CAP METRO’s area.
In addition, Council is proposing to remove existing limits on relocating billboards that are threatened by condemnation due to “transportation improvements along core transit corridors and future core transit corridors.” Among the restrictions being eliminated is the rule that prohibits moving a billboard to a location within 500 feet of a residential dwelling unit.
At the January 13 Planning Commission Meeting, Planning Commission Chair Alice Woods described the digital sign proposal as a “seismic change to what is allowed in our city in terms of digital advertising.” Another commissioner warned that adopting such a “massive” change could make it “difficult to put the rabbit back in the hat.” The digital sign proposal did not receive enough votes to pass the proposed ordinance, and the Commission postponed a decision on the billboard-relocation provision.
The Planning Commission had no working group evaluating this proposed ordinance, and no members of the public spoke at the January 13 meeting when the item was introduced. There has been no public outreach from the Mayor or any Council members. At this point, there is effectively no public awareness and no public engagement on the issue.
The lack of public engagement shows. It is hard to imagine that allowing electronic advertising screens in front yards at neighborhood bus stops and permitting billboards within 500 feet of homes reflects public sentiment.
This Thursday, January 22, the Council will consider the digital‑sign ordinance and related findings amending City Code Chapter 25‑10 (Sign Regulations) (Agenda # 64). The billboard‑deregulation proposal is also on the agenda, even though the Planning Commission postponed action on that item (Agenda # 86).